Vol. 540 No. 3
312 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will clarify the situation and give an update on proposals to construct an emergency facility for asylum seekers at the rear of Dublin Airport; if a contract has been formally signed; the timescale for development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20811/01]
A request for tender for the provision of a fully managed facility, that is, site, buildings, full management and catering facilities, to accommodate up to 400 asylum seekers, including infants and children, on the tenderer's own site and within a ten mile radius of Dublin Airport was published by the Office of Public Works, in November 2000.
In response, a number of companies submitted proposals which were examined by the Office of Public Works and the Reception and Integration Agency, RIA. Arising from this examination, the RIA placed a contract with East Coast Catering Ireland Limited for the provision of such a facility at Balseskin, County Dublin.
The facility in question will be a low-rise accommodation centre, modelled on similar facilities used extensively throughout Europe. The site has not been purchased by the State and the company in question has entered into a fixed term – three years – contract for the provision of the accommodation and ancillary services. It is envisaged that construction will be completed in mid-December 2001.
The residents of this centre will be accommodated on a direct provision basis, full board and lodgings will be provided to them. Full health and social welfare services will be provided on site and schools will be sourced based on available capacity. A school bus service will be arranged as appropriate. The terms of the contract also require the contractor to put in place recreational facilities to cater for adults, children and mothers and children.
