UPDATE: The briefing note on housing refugees sent to Tipperary TDs late last Thursday

Tipperary TDs were only notified in the late afternoon on January 11 that Racket Hall was to be used to house 160 International Protection Applicants.

The briefing document sent to the Oireachtas members states:

"This briefing note is being provided to you by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to ensure you are informed of developments in your area in relation to emergency accommodation for international applicants.

Update in relation to Racket Hall Accommodation, Dublin Road, Roscrea, Co Tipperary:

From January 12, 2024, onwards, 160 beds will be provided for people seeking refuge in Ireland who are International Protection Applicants in Racket Hall Accommodation, Dublin Road, Roscrea, county Tipperary.

- All statutory requirements relating to the establishment and management of emergency accommodation are being met by the service provider, including health and safety, fire, building regulations and other requirements

- The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth will manage the arrival of people into this centre

- The contract with this centre has been signed for a period of one year."

The briefing note also contains a Question and Answer section which is as follows:

1. How many people are intended to be accommodated in Racket Hall Accommodation, Dublin Road, Roscrea, county Tipperary? What will the resident breakdown be at the building?

- The capacity is for 160 people in 40 rooms. The accommodation will be for families of international protection applicants

2. How long can people expect to stay there?

- It is not possible to say with certainty what the length of stay will be having regard to the number of IP applicants arriving in Ireland and the scarcity of alternative accommodation. A 12-month contract has been signed with the provider.

3. What are the conditions at the site – what are the sleeping arrangements, toilets, showers, etc? What are the catering arrangements for the building?

- The property consists of a large refurbished four-star hotel accommodation centrally located Roscrea. There are amenities and ample community recreational space on site.

- Accommodation consists of 40 rooms varying in size

- There are sufficient numbers of bathrooms and showers for the number of residents

- There will be a self-catering service provided on this site. Residents will be provided with a weekly voucher or debit card for a local shop. Transportation has been established and will be supplemented by the service provider

- Residents will be provided with shop vouchers compliant with the IPAS Points System and refreshment stations will be available 24 hours per day. This will be replenished when needed

- Each resident will have toiletries replenished weekly and other essentials such as toilet paper replenished as needed

- The facility will have high speed fibre WiFi

- Fire alarms, fire-fighting equipment and security cameras fitted throughout the common walking areas.

4. Who are the owners and who are operating on site? What experience do they have?

- The property is owned and operated by Swiftcastle Roscrea Ltd with staff on-site 24 hours a day. Staff numbers will be increased as and when resident numbers increase on site. The owner has previous experience in the provision of
accommodation centres for IPAS

- In addition, the Centre Management team in IPAS have developed and rolled out (as a pilot initially) a training programme for all centre managers to take part in and this will be offered to the provider.

5. How many staff are on site? Is there a presence there 24/7? What are the security arrangements for the building?

- The facility will be staffed 24/7. There will be a general manager, assistant manager, RST supervisors and eight day-time staff, two translators, four nighttime security, bus drivers and maintenance staff

- A minimum of two members of staff will be present 24/7. There is also CCTV in
place.

6. Is the building fire cert in place?

- A valid fire cert is in place and has been provided to the Department. All supporting fire and insurance documentation has been received.

7. How will people be accommodated on site and retain a degree of privacy?

- Each resident will have their own lockable bedroom and 24-hour access

- Each shower and toilet is appropriately partitioned for privacy.

8. How will IP applicants be provided with PPS numbers? Are some of them eligible to work?

- PPSNs are provided through the Department of Social Protection (DSP). Applicants are eligible to work from six months after their arrival in Ireland. Most of the residents will be new arrivals. Many who have found work are making a positive contribution to the local and national economies, particularly in areas where there are skills shortages.

9. What health supports are available to IP Applicants?

- The Department’s International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) works closely with the HSE. IP applicants access health services through mainstream services: primary care, GP and emergency services. Any IP applicant residing in IPAS accommodation is entitled to a medical card. IPAS will advise their HSE liaison in advance of residents being accommodated.

10. What integration supports are available to provide linkages with the local community?

- 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.

11. What supports are available to provide day-to-day activities to the IP Applicants?

- IP applicants may avail of English language classes through their local Education and Training Board (ETB)

- An adult resident receives an allowance of €38.80 per week

- Other assistance from the Department of Social Protection, such as bus fares to attend appointments, is available at the discretion of the local Community Welfare Officer

- Adults are entitled to work in Ireland after six months

- IPAS carries out resident clinics at all new and existing accommodation locations to communicate with residents

- IPAS works closely with the HSE. International protection applicants are entitled to access mainstream health services

- IPAS works with a number of Non-Governmental Organisations who provide support to residents in the form of clinics, and there is a Department of Children, Education, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) funded confidential NGO-run helpline to assist with any queries that residents may have as well as an IPAS Helpdesk manned by Department officials

- International protection applicant (IPAs) are not entitled to apply for or avail of social housing or the Housing Assistance Payment while their claim for asylum is being determined by the International Protection Office (IPO)

- If an international protection applicant (IPA) has somewhere else to live in Ireland such as with a friend, spouse or family member they may do so. If an IPA does not have somewhere to live and needs to be accommodated by the Irish State, for the
duration of their application for asylum with the International Protection Office (IPO), they will be accommodated in an International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centre

- Intreo (the Public Employment Service) supports and services will be specifically geared towards encouraging a greater diversity of employment options for applicants. They will be entitled to access supports from Intreo to assist them in
accessing employment. Once labour market access has been granted, it is already the case that applicants can attend further education and training courses to help in upskilling

- Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses are also often focused on directly developing skills for employment and applicants are provided access will also be provided to employer networks to make applicants aware of available opportunities and to raise employer awareness of applicants’ skills and qualifications.

12. Is any assessment provided to IP Applicants to ascertain their needs or vulnerabilities?

- Yes. IPAS have a team working to provide vulnerability assessments. (It should be noted that this team remains under considerable pressure in the context of high numbers of arrivals and opening of a high number of new emergency locations).

13. Is Roscrea the only area considered for this type of accommodation, or have other areas in the county/country been examined? How many other centres like this are in operation?

- Emergency centres have been opened in all parts of the country. There have been over 190 accommodation locations utilised since January 2022 across 26 counties. These options must be considered to prevent homelessness for the unprecedented numbers of people arriving seeking international protection.

The briefing also gives public representatives a contact email address they can contact with follow-on queries or concerns