There are currently 157 adults and 91 children resident in the centre in question. A total of 65 persons resident in the centre currently have leave to remain in Ireland.
The Department has been informed by the contractor for the centre by letter received on the 3rd October 2018 that they will not be seeking to renew the contract which expires in December 2018. The Deputy will appreciate that discussions between the contractor and officials from the Department are on-going with the welfare of the residents at the centre of those discussions.
As part of a wider scheme to seek additional accommodation for those in the international protection process, a public procurement competition for premises within 40km of Newbridge was advertised on the 16th September 2018 with a closing date of the 17th October 2018. Clondalkin is within 40km of Newbridge.
The Department also provides funding to NGOs and works with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government on the issue of accommodation. In particular, funding was granted to the Jesuit Refugee Service under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund Ireland 2017 - 2019 for the PATHS project (Providing Asylum-seekers in Transition with Housing and Support) which assists long-term residents with status to exit the Accommodation Centre in Clondalkin. In addition, funding has been granted to South Dublin County Partnership for a two year housing and integration programme of which a key part is assisting residents of the Towers Centre who have their status to access housing supports.
