Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2024
964. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a full list of the number of beds available for accommodating both Ukrainian refugees and international protection applicants, listing the number that are occupied and the number empty, at the most recent date for which this information is available. [44944/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraInternational Protection Accommodation Service:
As of 27 October 2024, the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) was providing accommodation to 32,626 International Protection (IP) applicants.
IPAS works at all times to ensure accommodation capacity is utilised in the most effective manner possible.
Across the 323 IPAS properties variances exist between maximum capacity and actual number International Protection (IP) applicants in residence. The largest part of this differentials is accounted due to room configurations including differing family sizes often leaving unusable beds in allocated accommodation.
Contractual issues with service providers will also leave potential beds unused pending the resolution of issues and the need to upgrade and renovate rooms. A significant portion of bed capacity is further accounted for through the need for maintenance or deep cleaning of rooms following moves and, ring-fenced beds to facilitate the opening and closing of accommodation centres.
During 2023 and 2024, IPAS has had occupancy rates of 95% while at the same time having no usable beds available to accommodate all arriving international protection applicants.
The variances between occupancy rates and maximum capacity are within expected norms given the wide variety of IPAS property portfolio, contractual obligations of the properties available and the demand lead nature of the service being delivered.
IPAS continues to work toward maximising bed capacity with occupancy rates tracked and monitored on a weekly basis, based on register returns submitted by centre management. Centres also subject to desktop audits and onsite inspections to ensure accurate registers are kept.
Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection:
As of 27 October 2024, there were 34,152 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP) reported as availing of DCEDIY-contracted temporary accommodation nationally.
Due to continuing downward trends in BOTPs seeking accommodation from the State, coupled with increases in BOTPs leaving State provided accommodation to seek more independent living, vacancies continue to arise in the BOTP portfolio of commercial accommodation. These vacancies are notified by providers on a weekly basis and the numbers change daily in response to moves in and out of accommodation.
Vacancies notified by a provider must be validated by my Department as suitable for use and matched to the particular needs of individual BOTPs and families. The total number of vacancies available for allocation changes daily as vacancies are both validated and allocated to BOTPs on a daily basis.
While the number of available vacancies reported by providers to my Department are not insignificant, beds can be unusable for a variety of reasons which can include unused beds in family rooms, single occupancy in double rooms, or rooms closed for maintenance. Where a provider is nearing the end of their contract, for example, or where an issue has been raised with my Department such that the provider’s offering is under review, vacancies notified by that accommodation provider will not be filled until these matters are resolved to ensure the safety and wellbeing of BOTPs.
A significant proportion of vacancies which are ultimately deemed to be usable are already committed for certain moves in the short term. Where a provider has decided not to renew a contract for example, or where my Department must end a contract with a provider to ensure greater compliance or value for money, the BOTPs in residence will need to be moved elsewhere in the portfolio. The number of uncommitted vacancies is therefore far lower than the number of available vacancies reported by providers.
My Department’s ongoing work to consolidate and tailor the BOTP portfolio to match with current and future need for BOTP related accommodation will mean a continued need for usable vacancies as contingency within the portfolio. My Department publishes regular statistical reports on the Accommodation of BOTPs. The reports present data by type of accommodation, age groups and by county. The reports can be accessed here:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/9ac7b-accommodation-of-beneficiaries-of-temporary-protection-botps/ .
