Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 April 2023
482. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the long-term situation in relation to IPAS locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19365/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Government made a commitment in the Programme for Government to end the current system of accommodation for International Protection applicants and replace it with a new model that is based on a not for profit approach. As part of this process I published A White Paper to end Direct Provision and to Establish a new International Protection Support Service on 26 February 2021.
Properties have been acquired under this framework throughout the country with the support of the Housing Agency. However, there has been a substantial increase in the number of people seeking International Protection. 15,000 International Protection applicants arrived in 2022 and 3,036 persons so far this year. The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) has also had to procure accommodation to meet the loss of 2,540 beds since 1 January. Due to the acute accommodation shortage, 560 international protection applicants are currently without accommodation.
In this context, IPAS is opening new centres in locations across the country where contractors offer suitable premises for its use. The choice of location for an IPAS centre primarily depends on the decisions of contractors to offer suitable premises or on the availability of suitable publicly owned property in particular areas.
