Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 September 2026
561. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason security expenditure at a centre (details supplied) increased to €1.3 million in 2025 despite the centre being unoccupied; and if he will provide a breakdown of staffing, guarding hours and other security costs. [68386/26]
View answer562. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the names of the security providers currently engaged at River Lodge, Newtownmountkennedy and the Midlands Accommodation Centre, Lissywollen; and the procurement process used to appoint those providers and the value and duration of each contract. [68385/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 561 and 562 together.
River Lodge, Newtownmountkennedy, was offered to IPAS by the HSE in February 2024 and was used to provide tented emergency accommodation during a time of increased pressure on the international protection system.
Accommodation was provided from early May to December 2024. The site provided emergency tented accommodation with capacity for 96 residents.
Due to severe weather conditions in December 2024, residents had to be moved from the site to alternative accommodation. Following technical and financial assessments during 2025 in relation to ongoing use, it was agreed with the HSE that the site will be returned to them, bringing the licensed use of this site for IPAS accommodation to a conclusion.
Details of costs associated with the centre from 2024 to 2026 are provided below.
While the site was used to provide accommodation during 2024, a proportion of the site's security costs were included in the overall accommodation and services provision contract and costs.
When the site was not open to residents during 2025, security costs and some utility costs became the main cost to the Department.
In February 2026, the Department undertook a review of security services at River Lodge. Following appraisal, efficiencies were identified which resulted in cost savings at the site.
The site is due to be returned to the HSE as soon as possible, once remedial works currently underway are completed.
|
- |
2024 incl. VAT |
2025 incl. VAT |
2026 incl. VAT |
|
Site establishment and maintenance |
€555,565.52 |
€2,000 |
€4,451.79 |
|
Fire Safety |
€1,284.12 |
|
|
|
Fuel |
€7,772.27 |
€38,193.45 |
|
|
Generator |
|
€11,444.04 |
|
|
Accommodation and Services |
€1,858,351.92 |
€75,044.85 |
|
|
Transport |
€307.50 |
|
|
|
Waste Water |
€21,856.24 |
|
|
|
Water |
€3,505.50 |
|
|
|
Security |
€357,747.68 |
€1,302,515.88 |
€480,408.48 |
|
Total |
€2,806,390.75 |
€1,429,198.22 |
€484,860.27 |
