Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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544. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the Government plans to move IPAS families currently being accommodated in a location (details supplied); and if so, if he will guarantee that prior to moving them from the facility that advance notice will be provided to the local population. [41218/24]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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545. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department or IPAS plans to accommodate persons, other than those currently being accommodated in a location (details supplied); and if so, if any additional persons to be accommodated there will be police vetted. [41219/24]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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546. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the date upon which a hotel (details supplied) will cease to be used as accommodation for those seeking international protection; if attempts are being made to source a more suitable facility for the families currently accommodated there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41220/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 544, 545 and 546 together.

The Government is committed to supporting all those seeking IP in Ireland and work is ongoing across the country to bring available accommodation into use to support our residents.

This is part of Irish and EU law and is also part of our humanitarian duty to provide shelter to people fleeing war and persecution in their home country.

At the moment, there are over 32,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole, compared with approximately 7,000 people at the end of August 2022.

Of those 32,000 people, approximately 9,000 are children. People are accommodated at over 300 locations, in every county.

The location referred to in the Deputy's questions, following an offer from a provider and a detailed appraisal process, has been contracted by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) to provide accommodation for families with children seeking International Protection.

This accommodation centre has a maximum capacity to provide accommodation for 103 people and a contract has been signed with the provider for one year.

A detailed briefing note was sent to public representatives on 14 August, informing them of the commencement of the contract and giving details of the accommodation and the arrangements being put in place to accommodate families, and integration supports being facilitated in the community.

As part of the engagement process, a member of the Department's Community Engagement Team met with Tuam MD Councillors on 19th August in an online meeting. Further information on our community engagement process is available online at www.gov.ie/IPAS.

The Department does not comment on specific transfers or occupancy figures for individual sites given the fluid and emergency nature of its requirement to provide shelter for people seeking international protection (IP), and their right to privacy and anonymity.

In relation to the residents at this centre, they are families of international protection applicants. The establishment of a person’s identity and nationality is an important feature of our immigration process. This, alongside the recording of certain data for security purposes, is managed by the International Protection Office (IPO), which falls under the aegis of the Department of Justice.

The Government's Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy (CAS) for people seeking IP aims to address the current serious shortfall in accommodation and build a more sustainable system for the longer term. Accommodation in the new strategy is being delivered through the use of State land for prefabricated and modular units, conversion of commercial buildings, and targeted purchasing of turnkey properties.

It will also involve design and build of new Reception and Integration Centres and upgrading of IPAS Centres. This will be supplemented, as required, by high standard commercial providers.

I hope this information is helpful to the Deputy.