Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 December 2022
463. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of temporary rooms and beds acquired by IPAS within privately-owned accommodation (details supplied) to house international protection applicants to date in 2022. [62249/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDeputy, I can confirm that as of 4 December there were 10,568 International Protection applicants in temporary accommodation provided by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS). However, due to different room configurations, occupancy is not gathered on a room basis.
As you are aware, under the Recast Reception Conditions Directive (SI 230 of 2018), my Department is legally required to provide accommodation to international protection applicants who seek it while their claim for international protection is being determined by the Department of Justice.
The accommodation of International Protection Applicants (IPAs) is a demand-led process with applicants arriving in the country and seeking accommodation spontaneously.Since 1 January over 13,600 international protection (IP) applicants have arrived in Ireland. In the past 12 months this figure rises to just over 14,700. The average arrival figure for IP applicants for the three-year period from (2017 to 2019) is 3,500.
IPAS accommodation centres are currently hosting almost 18,000 people. At this time last year IPAS was accommodating 7,250 people.
Since 24 February 2022, the Department has worked to facilitate the accommodation solution for both IP applicants and over 49,000 Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs), an unprecedented volume of people seeking refuge in Ireland.The pressure to accommodate over 67,000 people since the start of the year has led to significant shortages particularly for the international protection seekers. My Department has been forced to avail of all offers of accommodation made, including the use of office buildings, in order to address the accommodation shortfall.
Emergency centres have been opened in all parts of the country. There have been circa 40 accommodation locations utilised since January across 13 counties.
The Department is availing of all offers of accommodation made to it, including the use of office buildings and sports facilities, to address the accommodation shortfall. These options are necessary in order to provide shelter to international protection arrivals, to meet basic needs and to prevent homelessness.
