Providing reception conditions to people who are applying for international protection is part of EU and Irish law, and people are entitled to accommodation for the duration of their application process. The duration of a person's application varies depending on the circumstances of their case.
Ireland has opted into and is now working to implement the EU Migration and Asylum Pact by mid-2026, and the Department continues to focus on preparing for this. The Pact will provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. This will be achieved through convergence in asylum practices across the EU.
From 2022 to the end of 2024, there was a sudden and sustained increase in numbers of people applying for international protection in Ireland. This came during the same period as the arrival of over 120,000 people fleeing the war in Ukraine.
The increased arrivals from 2022 onward placed profound pressure on supply of accommodation across this sector. The increased numbers of applications during this period, which must all be processed in accordance with EU and Irish law, also impact on the average length of time it takes to complete the application process.
The State is currently accommodating over 33,000 people seeking international protection in 311 International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres around the country.
The estimated cost forecasts requested are not available, but the Department is transparent in relation to accommodation costs, publishing all payments to accommodation providers on gov.ie each quarter. The current average nightly contracted rate for IPAS accommodation, across all accommodation types and contracts, is €71.
The new International Protection Bill 2026 gives effect to the measures of the EU Pact. Enactment of the Bill and commencement of the Act is required by 12 June 2026.
The International Protection Bill 2026 delivers on the Programme for Government commitment to implement the new EU Migration and Asylum Pact by 12 June 2026.
This Bill represents the most significant reform of Irish asylum laws in the history of the State. It will put in place a new framework to manage migration and asylum for the long term.
It will improve decision-making structures within the international protection system and provide faster timelines for the processing of international protection applications. The overall objective of the Bill is to provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure.
Faster decision-making means that successful applicants will be granted international protection sooner, and those whose applications are refused can be returned to their country of origin sooner. Reforming and speeding up processing of applications should also serve over time to reduce the scale of the demand for international protection accommodation.
