365. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is making contingency plans to provide accommodation and other supports for a wave of refugees coming to Europe and Ireland from Sudan due to the war, famine and humanitarian crisis unfolding there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37501/24]

The State has a legal obligation to assess the claims of those who seek International Protection (IP), and in that time, to provide accommodation and supports in line with the Recast Reception Conditions Directive (transposed under SI 230 of 2018, or the "Reception Conditions Regulations"), regardless of their country of origin.

Any potential arrivals from Sudan will be treated in the same way as arrivals from any other country claiming international protection, unless a decision is made by the EU, like that made for arrivals from Ukraine, to invoke a temporary directive. Ireland’s response to any such directive would be a matter for Government to determine.

Currently, there are over 32,000 people accommodated in the IPAS system. In response, The Department has increased International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) capacity by more than 400% since 2020, from just under 7,000 people on 31 December 2020.

The shortage of suitable accommodation to offer to people who are seeking international protection is a huge challenge for the Department.

The Department is working with communities all over Ireland to source and provide accommodation for people applying for international protection. 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.

On 27 March 2024, I announced a new Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy for people seeking international protection in Ireland. Accommodation in the new strategy will be delivered through 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.