Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 February 2025
920. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons in IPAS accommodation centres, by month, in the years 2023 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2421/25]
View answerThank you for your question, Deputy.
Ireland is currently responding to an ongoing very significant increase in applications for international protection since 2022. The response has meant a 400% and ongoing increase in the capacity of the IPAS accommodation system, at the same time as the State responded to meeting accommodation and wider needs of over 100,000 people fleeing war in Ukraine.
The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) currently provides accommodation to almost 33,000 people at over 320 sites nationwide.
My Department continues to develop and source accommodation for people seeking international protection in locations all over the country, as part of implementing the Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy for international protection.
The Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy aims to address the current serious shortfall in accommodation for people seeking international protection and to build a more sustainable system for the longer term.
Intensive efforts are underway to source and bring into use suitable accommodation facilities, and to move over time toward a greater provision of State-owned beds, in line with the strategy and the new Programme for Government.
Accommodation is being developed through the use of State land for prefabricated and modular units, conversion of commercial buildings, and targeted purchasing of turnkey properties. This work will also involve design and build of new Reception and Integration Centres and upgrading of IPAS Centres over time, all supplemented, as required, by high standard commercial providers.
Further breakdown of requested monthly figures are in the table provided below as requested by the Deputy.
Weekly and Monthly statistics are available on gov.ie at the link below:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/07027-ipas-statistics/
Monthly Accommodation Figures:
|
End Month |
Total in IPAS Accommodation |
|
Jan-23 |
19,635 |
|
Feb-23 |
19,936 |
|
Mar-23 |
20,304 |
|
Apr-23 |
20,322 |
|
May-23 |
20,910 |
|
Jun-23 |
21,573 |
|
Jul-23 |
22,478 |
|
Aug-23 |
23,194 |
|
Sep-23 |
23,983 |
|
Oct-23 |
25,019 |
|
Nov-23 |
25,823 |
|
Dec-23 |
26,279 |
|
Jan-24 |
26,823 |
|
Feb-24 |
27,696 |
|
Mar-24 |
28,478 |
|
Apr-24 |
29,456 |
|
May-24 |
30,757 |
|
Jun-24 |
31,375 |
|
Jul-24 |
31,432 |
|
Aug-24 |
31,976 |
|
Sep-24 |
32,460 |
|
Oct-24 |
32,626 |
|
Nov-24 |
32,587 |
|
Dec-24 |
32,702 |
|
Jan -25 |
32,897 |
* As at 19 January 2025
