Airway's Update

How many people are intended to be accommodated in Airways Centre? What will the resident breakdown be at the building?

• The capacity is for 303 people on a phased basis.
• The arrivals will be over three phases – timelines to be determined.
• 126 people in the first phase.
• 132 people in the second phase.
• 45 people in the final phase.
• The resident breakdown will be for singles.  

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. An 89-week contract will be offered to the provider. 

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 is a repurposed building and is located in Airways Industrial Estate.  It is located on the old Swords road near Santry and adjacent to Santry Park where the Crowne Plaza hotel is located.
• Accommodation consists of 70 rooms varying in size.
• These rooms have been compartmentalised to adhere to fire safety regulations.  
• Rooms range from 3,5,6 beds and one 10 bed room. All rooms contain single beds. 
• Toilets and showers are communal and split into men’s and women’s. There is sufficient numbers of each at the required ratios.
• Full board catering will be provided on site.
• Each resident will have toiletries replenished weekly and other essentials such as toilet paper replenished as needed.
• The facility will have high speed fibre Wi-Fi.
• Fire alarms, fire-fighting equipment and security cameras fitted throughout the common walking areas.

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

The property is owned by the Goldstein Property ICAV, an umbrella fund with segregated liability between sub-funds and acting solely in respect of its sub-fund Goldstein Property Fund I. Airways Centre is operating the site with staff on-site 24 hours a day and there will be a manager and/or security staff on site at all times.  This provider has provided accommodation to IPAS before.  The provider has provided Two Gateway Building, East Wall under Gateway Integration Ltd. 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. 

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

There will be 6 security personnel, 3 administrative managers together with facilities mangers as required and cleaning personnel who will be present at the facility daily attending to any needs and 24/7 security is provided.

Is the building fire cert in place?

A valid fire cert will be provided to the Department.  The conditions on the Fire Cert are in the process of being complied with (Photo evidence has been provided of all conditions met to date). All supporting fire and insurance documentation has been received.

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

• Each resident will have their own lockable bedroom and access to a common room. 
• Each shower and toilet is appropriately partitioned for privacy.

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

PPSNs are provided through DSP. Applicants are eligible to work from 6 months after their arrival in Ireland. Most of the residents will be new arrivals.

What health supports are available to IP Applicants? 

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 (seconded to IPAS) in advance of residents being accommodated. 

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

• An integration fund is available to assist in linkages to local communities. A detailed guidance document to this fund an online application form is linked here. For queries, contact: ipss.transition.team@equality.gov.ie 
• IP applicants may avail of English language classes through the ETB. 
• IPAS carry out resident clinics at all new and existing accommodation locations.  
• IPAS 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.  

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 ETB.
• An adult resident receives an allowance of €38.80 per week. Residents also get three meals per day. 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 and can avail of English language classes from the local Education Training Board.
• 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 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 need 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.
• Initially, an IPA will be accommodated in an IPAS accommodation centre for the purposes of orientation, information provision, voluntary health screening, needs assessment and assistance with the first stages of asylum applications, before being sent to a longer term centre depending on individual circumstances and centre capacity. They will receive three meals per day in the centre or, where there is independent living facilities in place that allows people to cook for themselves, they will receive food vouchers to purchase their own food in local supermarkets.     
• IPAs are entitled to apply for permission to access the labour market after 6 months in the state. Intreo 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.

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.

Is Dublin the only area considered for this type of accommodation, or have other areas in the city/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 135 accommodation locations utilised in 2022 across 23 counties. 
• These options must be considered to prevent homelessness for the unprecedented numbers of people arriving seeking international protection. 

How do IPAS engage and inform communities in advance?

• The emergency nature of the response required means that advance communications are not as comprehensive or as early as we would like. 
• Effort is made to notify public representatives and State agencies in advance.
• Dublin City Council has been made aware of the use of the facility.
• The provider has confirmed that they have not made any links with local NGOs at this point but will work with all parties to support the integration of residents successfully. 

Who should public representatives contact with follow on queries or concerns?

• Queries should be raised with the facilities manager in the first instance. The contact is TBC who can be contacted by email at: TBC and by phone at TBC.
• IPAS operational queries and questions can be sent to ipasinbox@equality.gov.ie  
• IPPS procurement and contract queries can be directed to ipps@equality.gov.ie