The Government yesterday approved a package of measures aimed at tackling the asylum-seekers accommodation crisis, including the leasing up to four so-called "flotels".
The proposals presented to Cabinet by the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, provide for construction of 4,000 permanent spaces plus an additional 8,000 temporary spaces for asylum-seekers.
Of the temporary accommodation, 4,000 spaces will be provided in prefabricated units, 2,000 in hotels, guesthouse or hostels, 1,000 in mobile homes, and 1,000 in flotels.
Mr O'Donoghue stressed to his Cabinet colleagues that asylum-seekers would be dispersed throughout Dublin city and the greater Dublin area as well as throughout the State.
In relation to permanent accommodation, The Irish Times has learned that Mr O'Donoghue is prepared to invoke Section 2 of the 1993 Local Government Planning and Development Act of 1993 which will allow him exempt the structures from planning permission.
The section, which has never previously been used, gives a minister the power in an emergency situation to make an order exempting a State development from planning permission.
The proposals yesterday included the establishment of a statutory agency to be called the Reception and Integration Agency, to operate under the aegis of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, to plan and co-ordinate the provision of services to asylum-seekers and refugees.
The new body will also be responsible for co-ordinating and implementing integration policy for refugees.
The existing Refugee Agency, which deals only with "programme" refugees such as the Kosovars, is to be incorporated into the new agency.
On accommodation, the Government agreed to build 4,000 permanent places for asylum-seekers as quickly as possible.
It is understood that three flotels will be leased on two-year contracts and located in Dublin, Cork and Waterford.
The short-term accommodation will be provided on a full-board basis supplemented by social welfare payments of £15 a week for each adult and £7.50 a week for each child.