Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
705. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of individuals who have been granted refugee status and remain resident in direct provision centres; and the number of these individuals who have been relocated to another direct provision centre since receiving refugee status. [55182/23]
View answerThe International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is currently accommodating nearly 26,000 people in over 200 accommodation centres throughout Ireland. Of these people, over 5,900 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.
Please see, in tabular format, the number of those who have received permission to remain and currently reside in IPAS accommodation, along with the number of those who have progressed into their communities, up to November 2023.
|
Month |
Grants Issued |
Progressions |
Persons with PTR Remaining in Accommodation (end of month totals) |
|
Jan 23 |
206 |
97 |
5040 |
|
Feb 23 |
142 |
118 |
5064 |
|
Mar 23 |
295 |
162 |
5197 |
|
Apr 23 |
170 |
150 |
5217 |
|
May 23 |
270 |
197 |
5290 |
|
Jun 23 |
301 |
200 |
5391 |
|
Jul 23 |
279 |
162 |
5508 |
|
Aug 23 |
284 |
142 |
5650 |
|
Sep 23 |
210 |
135 |
5725 |
|
Oct 23 |
411 |
130 |
6006 |
|
Nov 23 |
265 |
331 |
5960 |
|
Total |
2833 |
1824 |
5960 |
