Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2026
669. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of IPAS contracts currently above the average nightly contracted rate of €71; the number below that rate; and if he will provide the range of nightly rates currently paid, without identifying commercially sensitive providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32919/26]
View answerIreland has at all times endeavoured to provide accommodation and other basic supports to people seeking international protection as is required by law. The State is currently accommodating over 33,000 people in over 300 International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres around the country.
Significant reform is underway to speed up the international protection application processing system and reduce the demand for accommodation. That includes moving away consistently, over time, from the emergency use of commercial accommodation and putting in place more facilities on State-owned sites.
The Department is also working to improve value for money by reviewing contracts and driving improvements in standards, governance and compliance. The introduction of a new rate card model in May 2025 is driving costs down for new and renewed contracts.
The average contracted nightly rate across IPAS is €71, and this rate encompasses fluctuations in the number of residents over time and also for varying types of accommodation configuration by centre and by contract.
The additional information requested in relation to contracted rates across the IPAS system, including numbers above and below the average, and the range, is considered commercially sensitive and is not available for publication. This is because providing the information could impede the Department's duty to achieve best value for money for services and contracts in active negotiation.
However, I can provide the Deputy with information on the average nightly contracted rate by county in 2025.
Table 1: Average nightly rate per county, 2025
|
County |
Average nightly contracted rate per provider (€) |
|
Kildare |
92 |
|
Carlow |
91 |
|
Meath |
81 |
|
Dublin |
78 |
|
Louth |
77 |
|
Limerick |
75 |
|
Galway |
74 |
|
Leitrim |
73 |
|
Mayo |
72 |
|
Cork |
72 |
|
Sligo |
70 |
|
Letterkenny |
70 |
|
Laois |
69 |
|
Donegal |
69 |
|
Wicklow |
69 |
|
Wexford |
69 |
|
Waterford |
67 |
|
Monaghan |
67 |
|
Clare |
66 |
|
Roscommon |
66 |
|
Offaly |
65 |
|
Kerry |
60 |
|
Kilkenny |
60 |
|
Longford |
60 |
|
Cavan |
59 |
|
Tipperary |
59 |
|
Westmeath |
55 |
