Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2018
273. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will clarify the plans in relation to the creation of a centre for refugees in Rooskey, County Leitrim; the details of the contract; the date for the arrival of the refugees; the number of refugees; the timeframe of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46866/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn January and again in September of this year, the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department published a call for expressions of interest in the national press for premises to meet the increasing demand for accommodation for persons in the protection process (asylum seekers).
This call sought expressions of interest from parties who may be interested in providing accommodation and related services on an urgent and emergency basis. This was issued in response to the urgent and unforeseen demand for accommodation and related services from those persons arriving in the state seeking international protection.
The criteria against which the Department assessed the offers of accommodation were availability, standard of property, ability to provide communal social spaces for residents, ability to cater at mealtimes and proximity to various other services.
It should be noted that these premises were offered to the Department by individual contractors across the country. The Department did not randomly choose any one location over another location.
Following on-site assessments carried out by staff in the Department, the Shannon Key West Hotel in Roosky was, subject to refurbishment work being completed, deemed to be a suitable premises for the needs of the Department. The premises is available, capable of providing meals to residents, has scope to provide the required communal social areas required by residents and is located close to other services.
My Department has engaged with the Chief Executive of Leitrim County Council and has provided the elected members of Leitrim County Council with information regarding the opening of the new accommodation centre.
As with every other accommodation centre in the country, my Department works closely with the HSE, the Departments of Education & Skills and Employment Affairs and Social Protection and all other relevant Government Departments and Agencies to coordinate the delivery of State services to residents.
The Shannon Key West Hotel is contracted to provide accommodation and ancillary services for up to 81 asylum seekers for one year, pending the completion of all necessary works and compliance with all regulatory requirements. The current timeframe for the completion of those works (which are the responsibility of the contractor) would mean that the centre would open at the earliest in mid-December.
As I have indicated, this centre is opening on an emergency and time-limited basis. In order to meet the accommodation needs in the longer term, the Department has recently commenced a public procurement exercise under which public tenders for the provision of accommodation and ancillary services by way of the independent living model, to persons in the protection process, will be advertised. This process is scheduled to continue throughout 2019 and for completion in 2020. This will be delivered via a series of regional competitions to cover the entire State.
