Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 April 2025
626. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of individuals who had their reception conditions amended and IPAS accommodation withdrawn in 2024; the number who requested a review of the decision to amend their reception conditions; the outcomes of those reviews; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15001/25]
View answer627. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of individuals to whom IPAS is currently providing amended reception conditions having withdrawn IPAS accommodation; the number of those who have requested a review of the decision to amend their reception conditions, excluding those who are unaccommodated on arrival; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15002/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 626 and 627 together.
There are approximately 33,000 people living in IPAS accommodation at this time, in about 320 accommodation centres located all over the country.
While residing in centres, residents are subject to 'House rules and procedures', intended to ensure the safety of all residents. Centre managers are responsible for ensuring compliance with the rules. These are set out for each resident, describing the services provided, the rules of the house, fire safety and how residents can contact IPAS if they have any concerns or complaints. These are available online on the Gov.ie website:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/3b0e9-house-rules-and-procedures/.
While most complaints can be dealt with and resolved locally or with support from IPAS teams, under Regulation 6 (1)(b) and (c) of the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018, the Minister may decide to reduce or withdraw the relevant reception conditions provided to a recipient where “the recipient has committed, or is committing, a serious breach of the House Rules”, or “the recipient has engaged in seriously violent behaviour”.
IPAS teams work closely with both residents and accommodation centre management to work through and resolve problems that may arise in relation to the house rules. Of the approximately 33,000 people in IPAS accommodation by the end of 2024, 61 people had their material reception conditions amended in 2024.
Individuals for whom reception conditions are amended are entitled to access an increased daily expenses allowance of €113.80 per week as a form of alternative material reception conditions.
Under Section 20 (1)(d) of the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018, “a recipient who is dissatisfied with a decision to reduce or withdraw the relevant reception conditions” made under Section 6(1) may request an internal review of a decision to reduce or withdraw reception conditions.
To date, 30 individuals have requested for the decision to amend their Reception Conditions to be reviewed. Of these, 26 reviews were requested in 2024.
The outcome of a review is a private matter between the applicant and the Department. If the applicant is not satisfied with the outcome of this review, they may appeal to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal as appropriate.
