The Department can confirm that the property listed in the detail supplied has been in use as an International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centre since July 2023. Renewed contracts relating to this premises were formalised in July 2024. The Department conducts all contractual negotiations on the basis of there being no guarantee of the continuity of a contract beyond its end date.
Since 2024, once a centre is in operation, the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) has not published details of the capacity or occupancy of our accommodation centres. This is due to both safety and security concerns, and to protect the privacy of international protection applicants in line with legal obligations under the International Protection Act 2015.
With respect to potential for contract renewals, the provision of accommodation for international protection applicants is demand-led, and each premises is considered on a case-by-case basis to decide if the contract will be renewed as it approaches its end date.
At potential renewal stage, consideration will be given to the current and projected demand for accommodation, the provider's performance under contract, and compliance with standards and legal obligations.
Ireland has adopted and is now working to implement the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum in mid-2026. Reforming and speeding up processing of applications should also serve over time to reduce the scale of the demand for international protection accommodation.
The Department is working to increase the amount of State-owned international protection accommodation and creating a more stable and sustainable accommodation system.
As developing these more sustainable state-owned accommodation system options under this strategy will take time, the commissioning of emergency commercial accommodation will continue to be a feature in the short to medium term.
