Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 June 2022
17. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to ensure that all children and families in direct provision that are being moved from congregated hotel style living are housed in own door or independent living accommodation as close as possible to the community in which they have been residing. [28407/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs set out in A White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service, my Department is currently working on implementing a new model of accommodation and supports for International Protection applicants.
Under the new model, an applicant for International Protection will initially be accommodated in one of six new Integration and Reception Centre. Accommodation in a Reception and Integration Centres will be own-door for families and own-room for single people, with specific tailoring for people with identified vulnerabilities. These centres will be newly built and be operated by not-for-profit organisations on behalf of the State.
Residents will remain in the centres for a maximum of four months - where they will undergo a programme of orientation, support and integration. Once the four month programme is complete, if the applicant has not received a positive first-instance decision on their application, or is undergoing an appeals process, they will transition from a Reception and Integration Centre to a house, apartment or own room in the community. This new approach will end congregated and institutional living and will focus on supporting integration from day one.
In the interim, a request for tender has been issued by my Department seeking additional accommodation for applicants for international protection which enables families to be accommodated in independent living options. This tender is a key plank in the strategy to end the current reliance on emergency accommodation. The aim is to ensure that all families in the international protection process are accommodated in independent living options once they have completed the initial reception process. The compliance check process was due to begin on 28 February but was delayed due to the Ukrainian refugee situation. However, the compliance check has now recommenced and the aim is to contract shortly any properties which meet the requirements of the tender.
