Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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811. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of residents in IPAS accommodation with an active deportation order; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8094/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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There are almost 33,000 people currently in IPAS accommodation, in over 320 centres all over Ireland. People who are accommodated by IPAS are either going through the application process for International Protection, or have concluded it.

About 5,300 residents are people who have been granted status to remain.

Generally less than 300 people in IPAS accommodation – less than 1% - have an active Deportation Order. Accurate information on the number of applicants in IPAS accommodation with a pending Deportation Order is available from the Department of Justice.

IPAS works closely with the Department of Justice and the Garda National Bureau of Immigration to ensure full coordination with all State actors to facilitate voluntary returns, returns and enforcement of deportations.

Under our current regulations, international protection applicants are not obliged to live in IPAS accommodation. They may source accommodation themselves if they choose. In addition, people who are resident in IPAS accommodation are free to move around the State and are not detained or restricted in their movements by IPAS house rules.

International Protection Applicants who receive a final negative decision are no longer entitled to reception conditions including accommodation, and are notified by letter of the decision. It is the experience of IPAS that they will often make the decision to move on from IPAS accommodation of their own volition.

With respect those whose application has been refused, the Department of Justice advises IPAS after an application for international protection has been determined. If they remain in IPAS accommodation, then IPAS continues to provide them with accommodation while their case is concluded. This might include an appeal, or being subject to a Deportation Order.

IPAS works closely with Department of Justice and AGS to support the removal of those in our accommodation with Deportation Orders from the State.

When an applicant is not successful in gaining leave to remain or status and a Deportation Order has been signed, the Department of Justice advises IPAS.

This is to allow the transition of the unsuccessful applicant from IPAS accommodation, if they have not already exited of their own volition.

Information on those who have had their application refused, but have not yet received a Deportation Order is not available to my Department officials.

The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) releases weekly statistics in relation to people seeking international protection (IP), including a per-county breakdown of where IP applicants are residing. These statistics are located on the gov.ie website: