Written answers
Wednesday, 22 May 2024
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
International Protection
Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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146. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the legal basis for the expenditure of Exchequer funds on the provision of international protection applicants who were not successful in gaining leave to remain or status and persons in respect of whom a Deportation Order has been signed, respectively, by IPAS. [23213/24]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Under S.I., no.230 of 2018, those who are entitled to reception conditions include those who are currently in the International Protection process, those who are subject to a transfer decision and those who are appealing a decision.
Matters related to making of a deportation order or an unsuccessful application for International Protection/Leave to Remain are the responsibility of the Department of Justice.
My Department is notified when an application for international protection made by an IPAS resident has been finalised and works closely with the Garda National Immigration Bureau and the Department of Justice to identify people in IPAS accommodation that have been issued with Deportation Orders with a view to their removal.
Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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147. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the sum expended on the provision of international protection applicants who were not successful in gaining leave to remain or status and persons in respect of whom a Deportation Order has been signed, respectively, by IPAS in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively. [23214/24]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The data requested is not available. Financial reporting in IPAS does not distinguish between International Protection (IP) applicants based on the status of their applications.
As of 12 May, there are over 30,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole (of whom 7,356 are children) compared with approximately 8,700 people at the end of February 2022. Together with Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP) displaced by the war in Ukraine, this means that Ireland is now accommodating over 102,000 people in state-supported accommodation.
The below costs include all accommodation and related costs, including transport, facilities management and other related expenditure. The average cost of accommodating an international protection (IP) applicant in IPAS accommodation in 2023 was €76.80 per night.
Please see, in tabular format, total annual expenditure between 2020 and 2023.
| Year | Total Spend |
|---|---|
| 2020 | €183.215m |
| 2021 | €190.856m |
| 2022 | €356.554m |
| 2023 | €651.713m |
Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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148. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will list the non-governmental organisations or charities supported by his Department that provide emergency humanitarian assistance, including food, medical care, tented accommodation, to IPAS applicants who arrive at the International Protection Office in Lower Mount Street, Dublin; the funding provided to each from 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23219/24]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) provides accommodation and related services to International Protection (IP) applicants who wish to accept the offer of accommodation from the Irish State. This offering includes full access to public medical services.
Due to a number of well-documented factors, the Department of Integration has not been in a position to offer IPAS accommodation to every IP applicant since 04 December 2023.
All single male IP applicants who present to the International Protection Office (IPO) during this period are assessed by IPAS and HSE staff for vulnerabilities and health issues, and prioritised for accommodation as necessary.
The Department has arrangements in place for the provision of services to assist those who await an offer of accommodation with Mendicity, Crosscare, Capuchin Day Centre and Tiglin at the Lighthouse. The Department is in also in regular contact with the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive, the Dublin Simon Community, and others, particularly with regard identification of particularly vulnerable individuals.
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.
Contractual arrangements for IPAS are commercially sensitive.
In relation to service providers contracted by IPAS to provide accommodation services to IP applicants, the information sought by the Deputy is being collated and will issue to your office shortly.
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