Direct Provision Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 July 2019

Thursday, 11 July 2019

Ceisteanna (361)

Jim O'Callaghan

Ceist:

361. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reported capacity of each direct provision centre at the end of June 2019, in tabular form; the reported capacity of each direct provision centre in January 2018; if works to increase capacity have taken place; and if so, the nature of the works. [31311/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality

In January and again in September of 2018, the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department published a call in the national press for expressions of interest from potential contractors to meet the increasing demand for accommodation for persons in the protection process. 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. 

Seven new accommodation centres were opened following those calls for expressions of interest.

Simultaneously, staff in my Department worked with existing accommodation providers to identify additional capacity in existing centres.  This involved the identification of additional or unused areas within a centre by centre staff, followed by upgrade or refurbishment works by the centre operator to ensure that all any new accommodation provided met statutory requirements and then final approval of the increase in capacity by the Department.  This process was ongoing during 2018. 

In August 2018, my Department, in conjunction with the Office of Government Procurement (OGP), commenced a series of regional Requests for Tender (RFT) competitions for accommodation and other services for persons seeking international protection.  To date, seven such competitions have been held.  Two are complete and the remainder are underway.  Additional capacity was also identified as part of those competitions.  As the results of some of the competitions have yet to be published, the identity of those premises remains confidential.

Tabular information on the capacity of centres is as follows:

Centre Name	County	Capacity 7th January 2018	Capacity 30th June 2019
Knockalisheen	Clare	250	250
King Thomond Hotel*	Clare		115
Ashbourne House	Cork	95	95
Davis Lane*	Cork		52
Kinsale Road	Cork	275	299
Glenvera	Cork	119	130
Millstreet	Cork	250	304
Clonakilty Lodge	Cork	110	110
Georgian Court**	Dublin	110
The Towers	Dublin	225	250
Hatch Hall	Dublin	215	220
Watergate House**	Dublin	68
Eglinton Hotel	Galway	200	210
Great Western House	Galway	162	162
Atlas House Killarney	Kerry	90	90
Atlas House Tralee	Kerry	100	100
Johnson Marina	Kerry	90	90
Linden House	Kerry	57	57
Park Lodge	Kerry	55	55
Atlantic Lodge*	Kerry		98
The Hazel Hotel*	Kildare		143
Eyre Powell	Kildare	87	152
The Montague Hotel	Laois	202	202
Hibernian Hotel*	Laois		63
Hanratty's Hotel	Limerick	118	118
Mount Trenchard	Limerick	85	85
Richmond Court	Longford	80	80
Carroll Village	Louth	60	60
The Old Convent	Mayo	245	245
Mosney	Meath	600	600
St. Patrick's	Monaghan	175	212
Globe House	Sligo	215	218
Bridgewater House	Tipperary	115	161
Atlantic House	Waterford	82	82
Ocean View	Waterford	100	100
Birchwood House	Waterford	145	145
Viking House	Waterford	81	81
The Grand Hotel*	Wicklow		111
Temple*	Westmeath		100
Athlone	Westmeath	300	300

* denotes new accommodation centre opened between January 2018 and June 2019

** denotes accommodation centre closed between January 2018 and June 2019