Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2026
784. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of residential properties (that would be described as family homes) in the ownership of his Department, in each local authority area; and the purposes for which these properties are used, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34133/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra785. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of properties that have been transferred or purchased from the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency to his Department in each month since January 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34134/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra786. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department owns a residential property (details supplied), as reported in a media outlet; the circumstances in which the property was purchased; and the intended purpose for which his Department will utilise the property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34135/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra787. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of IPAS applicants that are housed by his Department in residential properties (that would be described as family homes) currently, and for each month since January 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34136/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 784, 785, 786 and 787 together.
The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) 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. The Department does not provide details of the locations of IPAS accommodation centres, to preserve the privacy and safety of residents and staff.
The majority of IPAS emergency accommodation centres are located in larger properties and group settings, including former hotels, guesthouses or tourist accommodation, former commercial or institutional buildings, rather than residential houses. In contracting accommodation over recent years, despite significant pressures on accommodation supply, the Department has worked to avoid competing with the residential property market.
In line with the Programme for Government 2025 the State is working to develop more State-owned international protection accommodation.
The State has increased State-owned bed from 900 in 2024 to approximately 4,000 today. While most of these beds are in larger, group accommodation centres as outlined above, this also includes a limited number of State-owned bed that are 'in-community accommodation', for more vulnerable applicants.
37 in-community properties were purchased by Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for the accommodation of international protection applicants. 34 of these properties are being deployed to meet the needs of vulnerable cohorts of applicants. The remaining three properties are currently under review for alternative uses outside of IP accommodation.
The property listed by the Deputy is in this category, and is to be used to provide reception conditions for one family. A provider has been appointed to manage the property and is currently carrying out some works to make the property ready for occupation.
Since 2024, IPAS has not published details of the specific locations, resident profile, and occupancy of our individual accommodation centres. This is to preserve the privacy, safety and wellbeing of residents and staff. A table below provides a breakdown of the types of property included in this category.
|
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 |
In addition, as Minister, I am listed as the owner of 654 homes delivered under the Rapid Build Programme for people fleeing the war in Ukraine and 62 homes delivered under the modular proof of concept project. These properties were also purchased by the Department of Children. Each of these units accommodated people fleeing the war in Ukraine, typically each houses a family of 4 with children. The total cost of delivering the rapid build programme is estimated at €285.3m and the total cost of the modular proof of concept site is €15.2m.
