Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2024
592. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the full details of the supports offered to a local hotel (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19381/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the whole-of-Government response to this humanitarian crisis, and the unprecedented numbers of people seeking international and temporary protection in Ireland, my Department is focused on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) who request it, in line with government policy, and to applicants for international protection (IP).
The Deputy might wish to refer questions regarding supports offered to the hotel to which the Deputy refers and to the tourism sector generally to my colleague the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media of Ireland.
I am grateful for the role that the tourism sector has played so far in supporting the accommodation of BOTP and IP, but I am aware that this is not sustainable over the longer term. My Department is now focused on the stand up of larger-scale designated accommodation centres for newly arrived BOTP. The Government has agreed that a move from an emergency response to a more mainstreamed approach is appropriate, including through a reduced reliance on serviced accommodation, along with the development of other sources of accommodation such as refurbished properties, rapid builds and modular accommodation. This strategy should lead to a reduction in serviced accommodation contracts over time.
