Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
1150. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide, in tabular form, the full total spend by his Department to accommodate International Protection Applicants for the years ending 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14844/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraPlease see, in tabular format, the total spend of IPAS accommodation, for the last three years respectively.
|
Year |
Expenditure |
|
2021 |
€190,856,000 |
|
2022 |
€356,554,000 |
|
2023 |
€651,713,647 |
Due to the sharing of Citywest reception centre, a portion of costs were transferred from the Ukraine Division to International Protection and a revision was made to the year end sum for 2023, bringing the final total to €651,713,647.
As at 31st March 2024, there are over 28,000 International Protection (IP) applicants accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation system as a whole, compared with approximately 8,700 people at the end of February 2022. Together with Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection displaced by the war in Ukraine, this means that Ireland is now accommodating over 100,000 people in state-supported accommodation.
This is a nationwide urgent situation and centres have been opened in all parts of the country. Since January 2022, the Department has brought over 200 properties into use to accommodate those who arrive in Ireland seeking international protection. All of the limited accommodation capacity within the IPAS system is currently being used. While demand continues to outstrip supply, the Department on behalf of the Government, is doing all it can to ensure that families and children have been accommodated. However, due to increased arrivals of families and couples in tandem with delays in opening some properties, there is an imminent possibility of a shortage of family accommodation.
