Immigration Support Services

Wednesday, 20 May 2026

Questions (194, 195)

Michael Collins

Question:

194. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the scheduled expiry date for the existing management contract of a facility (details supplied); if the initial one-year contract reportedly agreed upon at the time of the facility's purchase is the current arrangement governing the site, or if it has since been extended; the expected timeline for the issuance of the new management tender for the complex and whether he anticipates that this new contract will be awarded and in place prior to the expiration of the current agreement; the steps being taken to ensure operational continuity and the maintenance of a "robust and rules-based" immigration system during the transition between management contractors at this site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38045/26]

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Michael Collins

Question:

195. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the status of the proposed tender for the management of facilities (details supplied); the scheduled date for the issuance of this tender, the expected platform where it will be published; if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the services and operational requirements to be covered under the new management contract; to clarify the separation of duties and the defined "boundary of responsibility" between Departmental staff and the private contractors appointed through this tender; if the scope of this tender will include another facility noted as a privately owned entity located on the same campus; if the facility is excluded from the tender, to detail what considerations have been taken regarding the long-term co-existence of these facilities, given the pending exemption application for that site; the way in which his Department intends to manage the logistics of shared campus facilities and hospitality services between state-managed processing centres and privately operated premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38046/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 195 together.

The Cabinet provided approval on 17 June 2025 for the State purchase of the Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre for international protection accommodation.

The purchase of the site is a key part of the Government’s strategy to develop a stable and sustainable accommodation system for people seeking international protection by moving away from commercial properties to State-owned centres.

The wider Citywest campus includes lands and buildings which are not part of this purchase. On the wider campus, approximately 800 beds for international protection applicants are provided in a separate commercial accommodation centre, City Ark, but this is not part of the purchase by the State.

Following the purchase the Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre, a 12-month transitional service agreement was put in place with the existing provider to ensure operational continuity. The transitional service agreement includes an optional 6-month extension and it is anticipated that it will be necessary to utilise the 6 month extension to allow adequate time to complete a compliant procurement process.

A tender specification is currently under development by Department officials, and a procurement process for the provision of the services at Citywest will be conducted in accordance with EU and Irish procurement rules.

A request for tenders (RFT) notice will be published on both the Government etenders website (www.etenders.gov.ie) and on the website of the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) in due course.

The breakdown of the services and operational requirements to be covered under the new management contract will be published as part of the tender process and will be available on the following link: www.etenders.gov.ie/epps/home.do

The tender being developed is specific to the Citywest hotel and convention centre and does not include City Ark, which is contracted as commercial emergency accommodation.

With respect to contract renewals, the provision of accommodation for international protection applicants is demand-led, and each premises is considered on a case-by-case basis to decide if the contract will be renewed as it approaches its end date.

Question No. 195 answered with Question No. 194.