Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 November 2025
243. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the Department’s assessment of the impact that accelerated first-instance and appeal decisions will have on emergency accommodation demand in Cork city and Cork county; and if he will provide any modelling carried out since January 2024. [66592/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra246. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of contracted emergency accommodation beds due to expire between January 2026 and June 2026; the proportion located in Cork; and the Department’s plan for replacement capacity. [66595/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 246 together.
The State is currently accommodating almost 33,000 people in nearly 320 International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres around the country, over 9,500 of whom are children.
As we respond to changing trends, and work toward a more stable and sustainable accommodation system in this sector, accommodation is being developed and delivered through a range of channels, with a focus on developing more State-owned accommodation.
The table below sets out the number of Accommodation Centre contracts that are due to expire from January to June 2026, and the number of beds associated with these contracts. The breakdown of data requested with respect to the number located in County Cork is not collated for publication.
The Department conducts all contractual negotiations on the basis of there being no guarantee of the continuity of a contract beyond its end date.
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.
|
2026 |
Contracts with expiry date |
Total capacity of contracts |
|
January |
5 |
453 |
|
February |
18 |
1335 |
|
March |
28 |
4718 |
|
April |
21 |
1990 |
|
May |
8 |
1330 |
|
June |
7 |
722 |
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.
In relation to impacts of increased processing of applications on accommodation in a given county, this information is not available. While accommodation is provided in each county, the IPAS system is managed on a national basis, meaning that accommodation is assigned based on availability and with priority on people's needs in relation to family size or other circumstances.
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 is ongoing and should also serve over time to reduce the scale of the demand for international protection accommodation.
