Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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598.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure that residents of direct provision accommodation cannot be moved for no justified reason, aware of residents who have resided in the same location for years being transferred without any engagement. [24594/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Ireland and many other European countries are experiencing a significant increase in people seeking International Protection (IP). There are currently over 30,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole compared with approximately 8,700 people at the end of February 2022. In the first 21 weeks of 2024, over 8,300 people have arrived in Ireland seeking accommodation from the State, averaging 398 people per week.

Transfers between different IPAS centres take place for a wide variety of reasons. For example, there are weekly transfers from the D Hotel Drogheda – where the majority of new arrivals are orientated when they arrive in the country. In addition, individuals and families request transfers for a variety of reasons and IPAS facilitates those requests as appropriate and where possible. These transfers are more difficult in the current context of extremely limited available accommodation.

In the context of the current crisis, some of the emergency accommodation that comes on-stream is very short-term in nature and necessitates transferring people to alternative accommodation when it's use for IPAS expires. In the same manner, when accommodation comes on-stream, IPAS will arrange transfers for International Protection (IP) applicants to that accommodation.

The accommodation situation is currently very fluid and necessitates IP applicants be moved, on occasion, to a number of different locations. IPAS works to minimise this as they understand the disruption this causes to international protection applicants. However, unfortunately, it has been necessary on some occasions.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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599.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to ensure that where a direct provision centre is located in a rural setting or a location with no public transport, transport would be provided at appropriate times to support people into employment and education. [24595/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Department engages with relevant stakeholders and accommodation service providers as appropriate to ensure that international protection applicants placed in accommodation in isolated areas will have access to transportation for basic requirements. The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) try to ensure in as far as possible that International Protection (IP) applicants are not located in remote locations however, given the current demand for accommodation, this is not always possible.

In situations where an Accommodation Centre is located in an area without public transport links within a 2km radius, with manageable access, IPPS will ensure that a shuttle bus service to a nearby town or public transport stop is provided. This Department also engages with the Department of Transport, as the need arises, regarding the expansion of the Local Link network for both IP applicants and Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs).

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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600.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to ensure operators of direct provision centres are flexible when it comes the numbers of nights a resident can be away, i.e., a resident living in an isolated centre, with no access to public transport where they find work would be supported, rather than penalised, for finding work. [24596/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Ireland and many other European countries are experiencing a significant increase in people seeking International Protection (IP). There are currently over 30,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole compared with approximately 8,700 people at the end of February 2022. In the first 21 weeks of 2024, over 8,300 people have arrived in Ireland seeking accommodation from the State, averaging 398 people per week.

In line with Regulation 4 of the of the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 230 of 2018), material reception conditions (including suitable accommodation) is offered by IPAS with the requirement that IP applicants reside at an assigned property on a continuous basis or, where absent – such absence is in compliance with accommodation house rules.

The Deputy will be aware that due to the current significant scarcity of accommodation, it is the responsibility of IPAS to ensure that all available accommodation in the State is used effectively - where the use of beds is maximised.

IPAS has produced a document “House Rules & Procedures for Reception and Accommodation Centres”, which outline the procedures followed by IPAS. This document which includes information on absence policy is issued to all residents (IPAs) on arrival.

Residents must notify centre managers of any planned absence - if a resident is absent for an extended period from assigned accommodation without prior authorisation, IPAS will consider the absence as an indication that an applicant is no longer in need of IPAS accommodation and the bed will be reassigned to an incoming international protection applicant.

The Deputy should note that Regulation 6 of the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 230 of 2018) provides for the withdrawal of material reception conditions where house rules are not observed by residents.