Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
1412. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current occupancy number of all IPAS accommodation for international protection applicants; the current capacity of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1184/24]
View answerAs at 7 January 2024, the current occupancy of International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is circa 26,473 people. The total bed capacity is circa 27,297.
It should be noted that the figures are approximate as some centres were contracted on a room basis instead of occupancy and were given a capacity of 2 per room.
IPAS works at all times to ensure accommodation capacity is utilised in the most effective manner possible. There are a variety of reasons why capacity and actual occupancy may not be equal, including: where a person cannot share with another person for medical or other reasons; where a family configuration does not match exactly the available family accommodation; where rooms are maintained for isolation or quarantine should a resident contract Covid-19; and where rooms are being refurbished or not available due to maintenance work.
