Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
1050. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures he is taking to address the growing number of people living in tents around the International Protection Office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13586/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1051. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures he is taking to address growing concerns that the increasing number of people living in tents around the International Protection Office will become a flashpoint; the steps he is taking to ensure this does not occur; the engagement he has had with other Ministers and service providers, such as Dublin City Council and An Garda Síochána, in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13587/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1052. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures he is taking to address the serious concerns being raised by the local community with regards to the increasing number of people living in tents around the International Protection Office; the steps he is taking to support local community services; the engagement he has had with other Ministers and service providers, such as Dublin City Council and An Garda Síochána, in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13588/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1053. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures he is taking to address the concerns of local businesses whose trade has been impacted by concerns relating to the increasing number of people living in tents around the International Protection Office; the engagement he has had with other Ministers in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13589/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1066. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the decision was taken to move international protection applicants from near the IPO office in Dublin city centre to Crooksling; and to outline who took this decision. [13725/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1088. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when appropriate accommodation will be provided for those seeking international protection who are sleeping in tents; what immediate action he is taking to provide proper accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13974/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1089. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the process of securing alterative accommodation for the International Protection applicants who are living in an encampment at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14025/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1095. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what measures have been put in place to ensure businesses in a location (details supplied) and the surrounding areas do not close as a result of the failure of the Government to deal with immigration, resulting in an encampment of international protection applicants living in tents. [14094/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1096. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if urgent attention will be given to the situation at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14095/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra1176. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify what legal powers his Department, along with the gardaí, have to move along individuals at a location (details supplied). [15353/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1050 to 1053, inclusive, 1066, 1088, 1089, 1095, 1096 and 1176 together.
On Saturday 16th March, the Department offered International Protection (IP) applicants occupying tents at Mount Street an alternative location to pitch tents. This was done in cooperation with Dublin City Council due to the emerging public health and security risks. IP applicants were brought to Crooksling where they were provided with access to toilets and showers, health services, indoor areas where food is provided, facilities to charge phones and personal devices, access to public transport to and from Dublin City Centre and 24 hour on-site security.
Drop-in day services remain available to all persons not offered accommodation by the department who pitch a tent on Mount Street, as well as other persons found to be street homeless, 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 at these service locations.
The Department has arrangements in place for the provision of these services with Mendicity, Crosscare, Capuchin Day Centre and Tiglin at the Lighthouse. The Department is in also in regular contact with the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive, the Dublin Simon Community, Streetlink Homeless Support Outreach service and others, particularly with regard identification of particularly vulnerable individuals.
Issues relating to public order and the removal of tents from public areas are matters for An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice. Similarly, it does fall under the remit of this Department to comment on the success of business and enterprise in the area.
There are currently over 28,500 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole compared with approximately 8,700 people at the end of February 2022. Together with Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection displaced by the war in Ukraine, this means that Ireland is now accommodating over 100,000 people in state-supported accommodation
Department officials are working tirelessly to bring more bed spaces into use, and since January 2022 have brought over 200 properties into use to accommodate those who arrive in Ireland seeking international protection (IP). This brings the total number of IPAS centres to 280.
There were over 4,800 arrivals seeking IP accommodation in the first 13 weeks of 2024. This is an 86% increase from this time last year (2,614).
