Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2020
454. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the procurement process for accommodation for asylum seekers, that is, direct provision centres. [41498/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraPremises are sourced either through a full tender process which is administered through the Government’s Procurement Portal www.etenders.gov.ie or through responses to calls for expressions of interest, which are advertised in the national media. My Department is assisted with these tender projects by the Office of Government Procurement.
The tender process which commenced in late 2018, saw regional tender competitions being advertised, assessed and awarded. The competitions were held for the South East, Midlands, Mid-West, South-West, Mid-East, West, Dublin and the Border Regions.
All properties selected under the tender process must be able to meet the requirements of the National Standards for accommodation centres. This requirement applies to the provision of new centres and to any renewal of a contract with a current provider.
The Standards were published in August 2019 and developed through an Advisory Group including representatives from UNHCR Ireland and the NGO sector. The Standards will come into force in January 2021 and address a range of themes including accommodation; food and catering; individual, community and family life; health and wellbeing; governance; and meeting the special reception needs of applicants. The Standards will ensure that all new accommodation coming on stream must be able to meet the requirements for independent living by the provision of self-catering facilities for residents including a food hall and the availability of separate family spaces outside of bedrooms.
The provision of accommodation is demand-led, based on the number of applicants arriving to claim international protection and requiring accommodation. Where the State’s accommodation portfolio is not sufficient to meet demand and the tendering process does not identify and bring on stream the required accommodation as quickly as is needed, we may advertise in the national media for expressions of interest for the supply of accommodation. The contracts on offer under this process are generally shorter than those available under the tender process.
Offers made under the Expressions of Interest process are assessed under the following criteria:
- A good physical environment,
- Facilities that provide for family life,
- Cooking facilities for residents, where possible,
- Location of property and access to public transport,
- Provision of suitable security arrangements,
- An open and understanding management structure, and
- The ability to develop links with the local community to enhance the experience for residents.
The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) in my Department assesses offers of accommodation against these criteria and and against the National Standards and identifies those properties which are the most suitable.
