Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 December 2022
466. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the areas of counties Westmeath and Longford that are currently undergoing works or that are being examined as suitable refugee or IPAS accommodation. [62317/22]
View answerDeputy, it is not possible to provide the information sought due to the commercially sensitive nature of procurement negotiations.
My Department cannot comment on plans for accommodation in any specific area pending the agreement of rates, terms and contracts with providers.
However, I can assure you that the Department considers all offers of accommodation from all areas of the country and if offers of accommodation are made to my Department, they are carefully considered and appraised.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the current critical situation facing IPAS. As of 4 December 2022, there are 17,838 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole.
To date, over 61,000 Ukrainian refugees have come to Ireland under the Temporary Protection Directive and more than 49,000 have been accommodated by the State. Alongside this, there has been a substantial increase in the number of people seeking International Protection with over 13,600 arriving up to the beginning of December, with a prediction of over 14,700 by the end of the year.
Overall, my Department is now accommodating over 67,000 people, compared with 7,250 at this time last year.
All of the limited accommodation capacity within the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system is currently being used. Given the significantly increased numbers of arrivals in the context of accommodation shortages, the Department has no option but to consider all offers of accommodation.
Emergency centres have been opened in all parts of the country. There have been circa 40 accommodation locations utilised since January across 13 counties.
The Department is availing of all offers of accommodation made to it, including the use of office buildings and sports facilities, to address the accommodation shortfall. These options are necessary in order to provide shelter to international protection arrivals, to meet basic needs and to prevent homelessness.
I trust this information satisfies your query, Deputy.
