Fiona O'Loughlin
Question:246. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons living in direct provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42079/19]
View answerTuesday, 15 October 2019
Questions (246)
Written answers
My Department is responsible for offering accommodation and related services to international protection applicants while their claim for protection is being examined. Due to an unexpected rise in applications (figures are up 53% in the first nine months of this year), existing Direct Provision Centres, which offer accommodation, food, utilities and a suite of State services, have reached capacity.
I am advised that as of 6th October 2019, 7,547 persons were being provided with accommodation by the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS, formerly the Reception and Integration Agency) of my Department. Currently, there are 6,094 persons residing in the 38 accommodation centres located nationwide across 18 counties. As these centres are at full capacity, there are also a further 1,453 applicants residing in 35 emergency accommodation locations in hotels and guest houses.
My Department is actively working on securing additional capacity, both in its existing centres and through sourcing new accommodation centres. IPAS has sought expressions of interest from parties who would be interested in providing accommodation and related services to people in the international protection process and has also launched a nationwide, regional tendering process to source new accommodation centres.