Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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1781. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if IPAS centres are permitted to take on private renters or offer accommodation to other non-IPAS residents. [18514/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The role of International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) is to provide accommodation to people who are applying for international protection.

Providing reception conditions – accommodation and other basic supports – to people seeking international protection is part of Irish and EU law and is also part of our humanitarian duty to provide shelter to people fleeing war and persecution in their home country.

IPAS is currently accommodating approximately 33,000 people in over 320 IPAS centres around the country, about 9,000 of whom are children with their families.

People are entitled to IPAS accommodation until they receive a final decision on their international protection application.

Some people who have completed their application for IP and have been granted refugee status, subsidiary protection or have permission to remain in Ireland, are also currently accommodated in IPAS accommodation. People with status are provided with supports and advice on moving on from IPAS accommodation.

IPAS accommodation centres do not provide accommodation to people other than IP applicants or people who have been granted status to remain and are due to move to their own accommodation.

In meeting our obligation to provide material reception conditions to people seeking international protection, the Department can consider offers of accommodation from a tax-compliant company, subject to compliance with statutory requirements and minimum standards.

The Department carries out due diligence on accommodation being contracted including checks via the Companies Registration Office to ensure compliance with Companies Registration Office (CRO) requirements and tax compliance checks by way of a valid Tax Clearance Certificate.

Once an offer is received with respect to accommodation for international protection applicants, it is assessed for suitability. This includes a range of factors such as previous use of the property, accommodation suitability, rates, room sizes, capacity and amenities, information on the building's safety and fitness for occupancy, and various other criteria such as Wi-Fi, security provision and staffing.

In all instances where the Department enters into a contract with an accommodation provider, the onus is on the provider to ensure all activities are within legal limits.

Emergency IPAS Accommodation Centres are subject to inspections. For these centres, the Department has put in place an inspection process whereby it carries out unannounced compliance visits to check adherence to established IPAS policies, procedures and standards by service providers contracted to run centres. My Department carried out 300 inspections on all modes of property in 2024.

Resident Welfare clinics also provide IPAS officials with an opportunity to review and examine centres and their general operation and pass any findings on for follow up through the formal inspection process.