Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2024
587. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 1156 of 20 March 2024, if he can confirm that under the protocol, when purpose-built student accommodation is selected for use, the sign-off for this is required by both Ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16265/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department adheres to the protocol agreed with my colleague the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. When the terms of the protocol are met, my Department is free to consider proposals of accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) or International Protection (IPs) applicants .
In circumstances where an offer of accommodation for displaced persons is made in respect of:
• A purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) currently in operation; or
• A PBSA property which has been operating as student accommodation within the previous 12 months,
any such offer would be rejected based on the terms of the protocol. No further consultation would be necessary as these properties are specifically excluded from use.
It should be noted that my Department’s commercial accommodation offers portal for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) is currently paused and that my Department is not presently contracting additional accommodation for BOTPs from new or existing providers. Anyone wishing to make an offer of commercial accommodation is encouraged to submit it for consideration for use by International Protection applicants.
