Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 December 2025
383. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the numbers of both Ukrainian refugees and international protection applicants presently being accommodated by the State; if the trend is increasing or decreasing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68888/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Ukraine and International Protection accommodation systems are demand-led and sensitive to international crises, conflicts and migration trends.
From 2022 to the end of 2024, there was a sudden and sustained increase in numbers of people applying for international protection in Ireland, during the same period as the arrival of over 120,000 people fleeing the war in Ukraine. These arrivals have placed very profound pressure on supply of accommodation across this sector.
The State is currently accommodating almost 33,000 people in nearly 320 International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres around the country.
Applications for international protection this year have reduced compared to 2024, though they remain high compared to pre-2022 levels. This reduction has allowed my officials to put in place greater controls over the IPAS accommodation portfolio after many years of intense surges in arrivals, and a crisis response to source accommodation.
A range of updated systems and procedures have been put in place and are already having an impact. IPAS has put improved processes in place for appraisal, validation, contracting and payments. The introduction of a new rate card model is driving costs down for new and renewed contracts, already saving over €59 million this year. This reform within the accommodation system is on track for continued process improvement and costs savings as we move forward into 2026.
While commissioning emergency commercial accommodation will continue to be necessary in the short to medium term, it is being contracted on a short-term basis, which will enable the State to decommission this capacity with agility as contracts expire or demand fluctuates.
In the longer term, the Government is developing more State-owned accommodation options, which will allow us to move away from the current degree of reliance on commercial provision to better value State-owned accommodation options.
Insofar as arrivals from Ukraine are concerned, since February 2022 almost 120,000 who have fled the war in Ukraine have received Temporary Protection in Ireland. During this period, over 93,580 people fleeing the war in Ukraine have been provided access to state-supported accommodation.
Over 21,270 of those are currently in State contracted accommodation. In addition, over 41,500 people are currently in hosted accommodation supported by the Accommodation Recognition Payment.
Having fallen last year, in more recent months there has been a significant increase in those fleeing the war in Ukraine arriving in Ireland seeking Temporary Protection, and a consequent increased demand for the State to provide time-bound accommodation.
One key factor in the increase appears directly attributable to a new regulation confirmed on the 26 August in Ukraine allowing 18 to 22-year-old men to leave the country.
In response to this increase the Department introduced policy changes in September and November of this year. In September changes were made to access arrangements for State-supported Ukraine accommodation. People who arrived in Ireland before March 2024, and who are not already in State-contracted commercial accommodation, are not eligible to take up new State-contracted commercial accommodation.
This means that people who may have been in accommodation but have since left cannot avail of a second offer of State-contracted commercial accommodation. This also applies to people who arrived before March 2024 and did not take up State-contracted commercial accommodation to date.
From 10 November 2025 people registering for temporary protection who require State accommodation will be offered accommodation for a maximum of 30 days, reduced from 90 days. They will be provided with food, laundry, other services, and integration supports in Designated Accommodation Centres. Access to information such as how to source independent accommodation, pledged accommodation, employment, training, social welfare entitlements is provided. Additionally, State-contracted accommodation will no longer be available to people who have previously held Temporary Protection in another Member State.
These changes were introduced to ensure a continued sustainable, proportionate, and equitable approach to accommodation and to support independent living on the part of those arriving.
