Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1431. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons at present who have applied for international protection and sought accommodation under the direct provision scheme who were refused accommodation; whether these are all exclusively male; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1810/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Ireland is now accommodating over 101,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine and International Protection (IP) applicants. This includes almost 75,000 Ukrainian people who have sought accommodation from the State and over 26,000 IPAs currently in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation.

Despite intensive efforts to source emergency accommodation, the Department is currently not in a position to provide accommodation to all International Protection (IP) applicants due to the severe shortage.

All IP applicants who present to the International Protection Office (IPO) during this period are assessed by IPAS and HSE staff for significant vulnerabilities and health issues, and prioritised for accommodation as necessary.

IP applicants who are not provided with accommodation receive a temporary increase of €75 to their Daily Expense Allowance (DEA). This increases the allowance from the current rate of €38.80 per week to €113.80 a week for all eligible applicants.

As at 11th January 2024, 569 single adult males are awaiting an offer of accommodation. While demand continues to outstrip supply, particularly for single male adults, the Department is ensuring that all single adult women, families and children have been accommodated.

The Department is continuing to work intensively to source further accommodation and to follow up with those IP applicants awaiting an offer of accommodation. The Department publishes figures relating to IP applicant’s awaiting an offer of accommodation twice weekly, on the Gov.ie website:

gov.ie - Statistics on International Protection Applicants not offered accommodation (www.gov.ie).

Drop-in day services are provided to all non-accommodated persons who wish to avail of them. In such centres, IP applicants can access facilities including hot showers, meals and laundry services seven days a week.

All unaccommodated IP applicants are provided with the contact details for IPAS and with information on accessing health and other public services in Ireland.