Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 February 2024
107. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline the process and considerations his Department give when an offer of accommodation for asylum seekers is made to his Department prior to a decision to progress such offers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9709/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently accommodating over 100,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection (IP) applicants. This includes over 75,000 Ukrainian people who have sought accommodation from the State and 27,000 IP applicants currently in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation.
IPAS continues to require additional accommodation to meet the needs of new arrivals. Where request for tender processes have not delivered the required reception capacity, the Department has engaged in emergency accommodation sourcing through different networks.
Initial offers of accommodation are received by the International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) primarily through its e-mail portal - ipps@equality.gov.ie.
Once an offer is received, IPPS sends a proposal template to the prospective provider that they are required to complete and return. The proposal template seeks to gather as much information as is reasonably practicable to facilitate an objective assessment of the suitability of the premises to accommodate IP applicants. This includes information on the building's safety and fitness for occupancy, its catering provision and room sizes, its recreational and lounge facilities and various other criteria such as wi-fi, security provision and staffing.
When returned, IPPS reviews the proposal and any supporting documentation to assess the suitability of the premises that is offered for use as accommodation for international protection (IP) applicants before contracts are issued, and properties are also subject to pre-occupancy inspections to ensure they are adhering to the requisite standards.
