Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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254. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a family (details supplied) can have their stay at Lissywoolen accommodation centre extended. [5059/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) can't comment on individual cases due to our duty to protect the privacy and anonymity of all people applying for International Protection.

My officials are happy however to provide background information on how we approach accommodation for people who have completed their international protection application process, and are entitled to enter the housing mainstream with the same rights and entitlements as people resident in Ireland.

Currently, the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is providing accommodation to almost 33,000 people. Of these 5,292 had been granted permission to remain in Ireland as of 31 December 2024 and, as such, are no longer in the international protection (IP) process.

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.

All those with 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.

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.

The Department is very mindful of the challenges that exist for people in trying to move on from the international protection system as there is significant pressure on housing availability within the private rental sector, social housing and housing market across Ireland.

The Department never allows people with status to be left without accommodation, even though there is no formal legal entitlement to provide people with status with accommodation. Sometime people with permission to remain or international protection may be asked to move to alternative IPAS emergency accommodation, due to pressure on our overall capacity across the system.

I trust this information is helpful.