Written answers
Wednesday, 12 November 2025
Department of Justice and Equality
International Protection
Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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712. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on the gym and leisure facilities at a location (details supplied); when services will be reopened to members of the local community; if he will guarantee that these services will remain open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61070/25]
Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is aware that the leisure centre at the Citywest Hotel and Convention centre complex is a valued local amenity with approximately 3,000 members.
Following the purchase of the complex, the Department contracted the current provider to oversee the management and provision of service for the gym and the existing workforce was maintained under the transitional agreement.
Due to the public disorder outside the Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre campus some weeks ago, access was restricted to the campus for residents, staff, and members of the public accessing services including the leisure centre and restaurant. This measure was taken to protect the safety of all people who may be on the campus.
Members of the leisure centre were informed about the access restrictions.
An Garda Síochána is working closely with the Department regarding security arrangements at the campus and this is being kept under regular review.
Community members and representatives were informed on Friday November 7 that it is planned to facilitate access to the Leisure Centre for members from Tuesday November 11. A number of measures have been put in place to facilitate initial reopening and correspondence is being issued to all members to inform them of the reopening of the gym and the new measures in place to facilitate this.
Public access to the campus, including the leisure centre, remains restricted at this time and there will be ongoing communication including with local public representatives in respect of any update to this.
Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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713. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 495 of 23 September 2025, if he will address specific concerns raised (details supplied). [61077/25]
Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland is currently accommodating nearly 33,000 people seeking international protection in almost 320 International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres around the country.
Due to severe shortages of accommodation over recent years, the State was unable to offer accommodation to all people seeking international protection. Single male applicants are most affected by accommodation pressures
While the demand for IPAS accommodation remains high in 2025, the reduced rate of new applications has meant that IPAS has been able to review the cases of people awaiting an offer of accommodation and make offers to those who have been waiting longest.
This review has reduced the number of unaccommodated people from over 3,500 in March 2025, to 613 in October 2025.
This means that eligible people who applied for international protection during 2023 and 2024 and the earlier part of 2025 have received an offer of accommodation.
Depending on availability of spaces and numbers of new applicants, we will continue to make offers of accommodation to more people over the coming weeks and months.
People who are not offered accommodation are given a weekly allowance of €113.80 per week, an increase of €75 more than the standard weekly allowance for asylum-seekers.
IPAS has arrangements in place with a range of NGO partners to provide drop-in day services for unaccommodated people. This means people can access facilities including hot showers, meals and laundry services.
While most applicants are not rough sleeping, IPAS also makes offers of accommodation to any applicant who is, identified through outreach that is organised 7 days a week.
My Department continues to manage a limited supply of accommodation, prioritising people with families or who have specific health needs or other vulnerabilities.
Updated information on unaccommodated international protection applicants is published online at Gov.ie.
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