Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 July 2024
368. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if any financial penalties have been or can be issued where the provider of temporary accommodation for Ukrainians benefitting from temporary protection or international applicants have not met the required contractual standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27932/24]
View answerTo date no accommodation provider for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) have received a financial penalty. Where there is non-compliance identified, a provider is prioritised for return inspections to see that the issues identified have been rectified or addressed. If still non-compliant, ultimately, the sanction is that my Department terminates the contract.
The contractual provisions allow my Department to terminate contracts at one month’s notice. When an accommodation contract is being terminated, the accommodation provider is notified by letter that their property will no longer form part of my Department's BOTP accommodation portfolio, starting the one-month notice period.
In relation to accommodation providers for International Protection (IPs) applicants, if a provider is deemed not to have met the required contractual standards, a percentage of daily costs under the price per resident per day may be withheld from payments to that provider. If the relevant issue is not resolved within two months, my Department may terminate the contract once the appropriate notice period is given.
