Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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1778.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has received a submission regarding the very short notice given to parents and children in international protection of the requirement to move accommodation; and if he is able to accommodate their request for alternative approaches for such persons. [31562/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) does not comment on the particulars of individual transfers.

The Department is currently providing accommodation to over 31,000 people, of whom 5,323 had been granted permission to remain in Ireland as of the end of 10 July 2024 and, as such, are no longer in the International Protection process. At the same time, there is currently an ongoing shortfall of accommodation for newly arrived people applying for international protection.

This shortfall is currently in respect to single adult males and IPAS is now experiencing increasing pressure in its efforts to secure accommodation for arriving families, including those with children.

Where a person progresses through the application and review process, and receives a grant of status or permission to remain in Ireland, their status in terms of access to housing becomes the same as other people living in Ireland and Irish citizens. In these circumstances the Department and the IPAS has continued to provide accommodation until residents are in a position to source accommodation independently.

All those with International Protection/Permission to Remain are written to once status has been granted and are advised that given their progress through the IP process, they will need to seek alternative accommodation. They are supported to register with a Local Authority and, if required, avail of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) to secure alternative accommodation.

Given the change in legal status, IPAS works with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to support people in securing alternative accommodation. A specific Transition team works in collaboration with Depaul Ireland, the Peter McVerry Trust, and Local Authorities to support residents with status to move on from IPAS accommodation.

Those with status for the greatest length of time are currently being offered a transfer to alternative emergency accommodation, currently singles/couples with status over 9 months and families with status over 18 months. This process began in September 2022 with single people with status.

In the past 24 months, over 4,600 people with status have left IPAS accommodation and progressed into the community.

Where a person cannot secure independent accommodation by the defined date, IPAS will provide temporary, emergency accommodation. Acknowledging the ongoing increases in people arriving into Ireland seeking international protection, and the shortfall in accommodation for new arrivals, the Department will continue to work to support all those using our services.

This policy is in place to help ensure accommodation in non-emergency settings is available to newly arrived persons seeking International Protection.