Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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292. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality regarding residents of IPAS accommodation employed in roles with companies who have some work outside of the area in which the accommodation is based, if there is a mechanism for such residents to access alternative accommodation while working in an alternative area in order to avoid losing their employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21977/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The State is currently accommodating over 33,000 people in over 320 International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres around the country, and about 9,000 of residents are children with their families.

With pressure on accommodation availability, it is not possible for IPAS to facilitate residents in term of preference or flexibility on accommodation location.

While we aim to provide accommodation and meet people’s needs in relation to accommodation and other basic supports, it isn’t possible to offer people flexible accommodation arrangements such as outlined in the question.

IPAS has an agreed policy for residents and centres to cover requests for absence and other day-to-day arrangements, called “House Rules & Procedures for Reception and Accommodation Centres”, which outline the procedures followed by IPAS.

In line with Regulation 4 of the of the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 230 of 2018), material reception conditions (including suitable accommodation) is offered by IPAS with the requirement that IP applicants reside at an assigned property on a continuous basis or, where absent – such absence is in compliance with accommodation house rules.

The House Rules policy, including information on the absence policy, is issued to all residents on arrival and is available online on gov.ie -www.gov.ie/en/international-protection-accommodation-services-ipas/publications/information-for-residents/.

The IPAS customer service team and resident welfare team both work with residents to resolve requests or complaints about their accommodation, including support for specific needs, for example access to essential health care appointments and other essential services.