Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 December 2022
288. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the length of time that persons will be accommodated in a hotel (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60000/22]
View answerAs of 20 November 2022, there are 17,518 people accommodated by the Internatinal Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS). At this point in 2021, there were approximately 7,250 people in IPAS accommodation.
In the context of this crisis, the State is availing of all offers of accommodation made, including temporary emergency accommodation in Killarney and in many other locations nationwide, in order to address the urgent accommodation need.
Given the significantly increased numbers of international protection applicants arriving in the country in addition to the Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection - (BOTPs), temporary emergency accommodation has to be used, often at very short notice, in order to prevent homelessness.
The current IPAS contract with Killarney Hotel is due to end on 31 March 2023.
