International Protection
Seanad Éireann — 2026-05-12
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Sharon Keogan (IND), Industrial and Commercial Panel

I thank the Minister of State for the reply. I have to say that it is not really as detailed as I would have liked. In relation to the 37 in-community properties the Department has purchased, nobody knows where they are. Are they currently occupied? Are they unoccupied, like the one in Stamullen at this moment in time that has been left vacant for the past four years? On the three properties that are currently under review for use outside IP accommodation, what is that for? Is that something to do with the Department of justice? Is it for prisoners who are leaving prison? The Minister of State has given me a very vague answer today.
Does the Minister of State think it is right that the first I hear of a house in my community is through the media? Does the Minister of State think that is right? We are the people on the ground every day of the week. Does the Minister of State think we should be reading that in a newspaper? This is something he should be doing. If the Government wants community engagement, it needs to be telling elected representatives what is happening. At this moment in time, the Government has not been doing that. This is why we have problems around the country. I am not really happy with the Minister of State's response.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-05-12/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:55+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-12