Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2024
937. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of State-owned reception centres currently in operation; the number of units delivered by year; and the average capacity and the average capital cost of the units delivered in each of the years 2021 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [44578/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraCurrently, the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is providing accommodation to over 32,000 people in 320 centres around the country. Over recent years, Ireland, alongside many other EU Member States and other countries, has experienced a very significant increase in people seeking International Protection (IP).
The Government and this Department is making every effort to accommodate people seeking IP against this backdrop of unprecedented demand. 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.
Long-term IPAS centres
There are a number of IPAS sites with long-term arrangements with the Department, whereby the provision of accommodation, facilities management and ancillary services are contracted on a long-term basis.
These centres are Knockalisheen, Athlone, Park Lodge, Atlas House Killarney, Atlas House Tralee, Kinsale Road and Johnston Marina and have been in place since 2016 or earlier. Capacity at these 7 centres stands at approximately 1,200 people.
Over 96% of the accommodation provided to people seeking international protection by IPAS is contracted commercially.
Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy
In March 2024, Government approved a Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy. The Government's Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy (CAS) for people seeking IP aims to address the current serious shortfall in accommodation for people seeking IP and to build a more sustainable system for the longer term.
This strategy proposes a move away from reliance on commercial providers towards a core of 14,000 State beds by 2028. It was published in March 2024 and is now being implemented.
Accommodation in the new strategy is being delivered through targeting 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.
To date, five additional state-owned sites have been licensed to the Department under this strategy, including Crooksling, River Lodge, Heatherside (HSE), Thornton Hall (IPS) and Lissywollen, Athlone (OPW).
Tented accommodation has been stood up at both Crooksling and River Lodge, together, these sites offer a current capacity of over 600 residents. The Department is progressing plans to develop Thornton Hall and Athlone and these are hoped to be occupied in the near future.
Capital costs for the CAS
Currently, the Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy is subject to detailed analysis and planning, and business cases on individual sites will provide clarity on the sites assessed and found to be viable.
At this point a reasonable estimate of costs will be subject to analysis and sanction on a site by site basis under the Infrastructure Guidelines.
In delivering each accommodation site, final costs will be informed by a wide variety of potentially varied factors including site acquisition, site security and insurance, physical infrastructure requirements, delivery mechanism (modular, design and build, refurbishment etc.) groundworks, labour and other variables.
Other capital costs
As well as providing reception centres and emergency accommodation, the Department also has responsibility and funding for specific accommodation to support accommodation and properties for independent living in the community. Such properties are to be provided for people with specific needs or higher supports and fall under the CAS as in-community accommodation for vulnerable persons.
A breakdown of capital costs on international protection accommodation services from 2022 to date in 2024 is provided below. This spend relates to 37 individual houses and apartments. The capital spend in 2022 and 2023 was on purchasing these properties. The capital spend in 2024 to date has been on capital works, namely renovations and fit out.
IPSS/SIPA Capital Funds
2022 Purchasing properties €8,465,305.15
2023 Purchasing properties €711,000.00
2024 Capital works €754,947.73
