Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 May 2026
183. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of residential properties acquired, leased, licensed or otherwise secured by or on behalf of his Department for use connected to international protection accommodation from 2022 to date, by county and local authority area. [37950/26]
View answer184. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department operates a policy of acquiring or utilising standard residential housing stock within existing housing estates for international protection accommodation purposes. [37951/26]
View answer185. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any national policy framework, operational guidance or internal protocol exists governing the placement of international protection applicants within residential estates or standard private housing developments. [37952/26]
View answer186. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any consultation, notification or community engagement obligations apply before residential properties are brought into use for international protection accommodation purposes. [37953/26]
View answer187. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether local authorities, management companies, elected representatives, An Garda Síochána, schools or health services are routinely notified before such properties become operational. [37954/26]
View answer188. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any assessment is conducted regarding local infrastructure capacity, including school places, GP capacity, transport availability and community services, before residential properties are utilised for international protection accommodation. [37955/26]
View answer189. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the Department maintains a central register of residential properties used for international protection accommodation purposes. [37956/26]
View answer190. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of residential properties currently occupied by single male applicants, family applicants and vulnerable persons respectively. [37957/26]
View answer191. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether any formal community engagement meetings relating to residential-property-based international protection accommodation were cancelled, deferred or withdrawn since 2024. [37958/26]
View answer192. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the Department intends to expand the use of standard residential housing stock for international protection accommodation over the next three years. [37959/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 183 to 192, inclusive, together.
The International Protection Accommodation Service is currently accommodating over 33,000 residents in 305 international protection accommodation centres around the country.
Currently over 88% of accommodation capacity is provided through commercial providers. In contracting or purchasing accommodation over recent years, despite significant pressures on accommodation supply, the Department has worked in the main to avoid competing with the residential property market.
The great majority of IPAS accommodation capacity, whether contracted or State-owned, is located in group settings in larger properties, like former hotels, guesthouses, commercial and institutional buildings. A small proportion of more vulnerable applicants may be accommodated in smaller scale properties.
A small number of residential type properties are contracted to IPAS to provide accommodation in communities, for international protection applicants with specific needs or higher support needs.
In line with the Programme for Government 2025 the State is working to develop more State-owned international protection accommodation and reduce reliance on commercially contracted accommodation.
37 in-community properties were purchased by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for the accommodation of more vulnerable applicants, for whom group accommodation would not be suitable. It is not my intention as Minister to purchase any further properties of this type.
34 of these properties are being deployed to meet the needs of vulnerable cohorts of applicants. Three of these properties are currently under review for alternative uses outside of international protection accommodation.
In the limited cases where we’re providing accommodation applicants with specific needs or higher support needs, information about the address of centres or resident information is treated as confidential, to preserve people’s privacy, safety and anonymity.
Breakdown of type of property:
|
Type of Property |
Number |
|
One Bed Apartment |
1 |
|
Two Bed Apartment |
5 |
|
Two Bed House |
4 |
|
Three Bed House |
20 |
|
Four Bed House |
5 |
|
10 Bed |
1 |
|
12 Bed |
1 |
|
Total |
37 |
Since 2024, IPAS has not published details of the specific locations, resident profile, and occupancy of our accommodation centres. This is to preserve the privacy, safety and wellbeing of residents and staff.
