Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 December 2023
479. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department provides accommodation to persons whose protection application has been determined and is no longer the subject of any legal challenge to that said determination; if so, to how many such persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53502/23]
View answerThe International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is currently accommodating 26,000 people in over 200 accommodation centres throughout Ireland. Of these people, approximately 6,000 have been granted International Protection or a Leave to Remain.
Under The European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018, those who have had their application determined are no longer entitled to Material Reception conditions. However, IPAS continues to accommodate those with status, until such time that they progress into the community.
IPAS has a specific Transition team who work in collaboration with DePaul Ireland, the Peter McVerry Trust, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Local Authorities to support residents with status to exit IPAS accommodation and access other housing options. Those with status have the same housing entitlements as Irish Citizens and are supported to register with a Local Authority and, if required, to avail of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) to secure alternative accommodation. In addition, those with status have the same social welfare entitlements as Irish citizens.
Those with status for the greatest length of time are currently being offered a transfer to alternative emergency accommodation. Those being offered this transfer have been granted status for at least 18 months.
This process began in September 2022, beginning with single applicants with status for over 3 years. Currently singles/couples with status over 18 months have been notified of the offer of emergency accommodation, if they have been unable to source accommodation within 6 weeks of the dated letter.
All those with International Protection/Permission to Remain are written to once status has been granted and are advised they must now seek alternative accommodation. They are also advised that the supports of Peter McVerry Trust/DePaul are available to them. In the past 18 months, over 2,000 people with status have left IPAS accommodation and progressed into the community.
