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 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.
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.
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.
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.
