Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 February 2024
90. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of asylum seekers that have not been provided with accommodation by his Department; when he expects that accommodation will be provided for all asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9512/24]
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 over 27,000 IP applicants currently in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation.
As at 27 February, 1,480 adult males have presented at the International Protection Office (IPO) and 1,305 have received the temporarily increased expense payment in place of an accommodation offer from IPAS. 175 received an accommodation offer following a vulnerability triage. 283 have been retrospectively accommodated, and 1,022 persons are still awaiting an accommodation offer.
Despite intensive efforts to source emergency accommodation, the Department is currently providing contingency material reception conditions in the form of an expense allowance of €113.80 per week to some International Protection (IP) applicants due to the severe shortage of accommodation. This is an increase of €75 per week from the standard expenses allowance of €38.80 for IP applicants in accommodation.
In addition to this increase in the increased expense allowance, a system of triage of adult males is being implemented to ensure that those who are most vulnerable are prioritised for the provision of accommodation.
Drop-in day services are provided to all non-accommodated persons who wish to avail of them. In such centres, IP applicants can access facilities including hot showers, meals and laundry services seven days a week.
Department officials are working to bring more bed spaces into use. The Department is presently utilising a wide range of accommodation options to provide shelter to record numbers of IP applicants, over 200 accommodation locations utilised since January 2022 across 26 counties.
