Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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472. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people currently in the direct provision system; to list the type of accommodation IPAs are being housed in; the length of time spent by IPAs in these accommodation types; to provide those figures in increments of three months and based on accommodation types; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49971/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As at 5th November, there are 25,260 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole, compared with 16,000 people at this time last year. The Department continues to explore all offers of accommodation for international protection applicants (IPAs) in as far as it can.

The Department is currently availing of repurposed office buildings, decommissioned Defence Forces barracks and tents to try to address shortfalls in reception capacity. While the Department is aware that some types of accommodation are less than ideal it is working hard to find solutions, through the use of facilities management companies in some cases, to offer emergency food, shelter and sanitation provision.

Due to the emergency nature of the accommodation crisis, it is not possible to state what the average length of stay is for residents.

Please see in tabular format, the type of accommodation provided by IPAS; the number of centres in each category; and the figures for IPAs currently residing in each category of accommodation. Please note, the number accommodated every day changes due to arrivals and departures, so figures are at a point in time