658. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth regarding his recent statement confirming that 415 international protection applicants are to be accommodated at Benbulben Court, Sligo, where he says there are 524 bed spaces, if he will confirm that the State is paying the property owners for 524 beds and choosing to use just 415, which seems to be the implication of the brief he circulated. [43276/24]

415 beds will be provided for people seeking refuge in Ireland who are international protection applicants in Benbulben Court in Sligo. The contract with this centre has been signed for a period of two years. The accommodation will be for families of international protection applicants.

Emergency centres providing international protection accommodation have been opened in all parts of the country. There have been over 230 such accommodation locations used since January 2022 across 26 counties. Due to the pressure on accommodation for people applying for international protection, my Department will be providing accommodation for people applying for international protection at this location.

This property in Sligo town was submitted to the Department via a Request for Tender (RFT) competition in October 2022. It was evaluated and deemed to meet or exceed all of the qualifying criteria.

The Government has stipulated a 12-month period after which buildings have ceased provision of student accommodation during which they will not be contracted for the purpose of providing accommodation to people applying for international protection. This property has been vacant of students for over 12 months, since May 2023.

The Department has agreed a contract for accommodation at this location, and we have commenced the contract with use of spaces for up to 415 people.

Further details of the International Protection Procurement Service’s contractual arrangements are kept routinely confidential, as they are commercially sensitive and IPAS accommodation’s specific occupancy levels are also unpublished to preserve the privacy and security of our residents.

The Department’s International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) works closely with the Local Authority, their Integration Teams, the HSE, local education services and other integration supports when new international protection applicants arrive into an area. Local services have been made aware of this new accommodation centre and are being mobilised to help make arrangements needed for any support services.

IPAS carry out resident clinics at all new and existing accommodation locations. IPAS also work with a number of NGOs who provide support to residents in the form of clinics, and in addition there is a DCEDIY funded confidential NGO run helpline to assist with any queries a resident may have while settling into a new locality, or at any time during their time in IPAS accommodation.