Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

208. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total expenditure incurred by the State over the past five years in transporting newly arrived international protection applicants from points of entry, including Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Knock airports, to a centre (details supplied); the expenditure by transport type including private coach hire, contracted transport providers, taxis, security or Garda escort, and any related logistical costs; the total number of persons transported under such arrangements during the same period; the average cost per person transported; and which Department or agency bore the cost of this transport. [17354/26]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The State provides accommodation and basic supports to people applying for international protection under EU and Irish law.

A person applying for international protection may make their application either at a designated port of entry, or they may lodge their initial application directly with the International Protection Office (IPO) after arriving in the State.

Information with respect to transporting newly arrived international protection applicants from points of entry, including Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Knock airports to the accommodation centre referred to over the last 5 years is not available.

A significant proportion of international protection applicants applying for the first time presented directly at the IPO rather than at points of entry.

Over 33,000 people are currently resident in 309 IPAS accommodation centres nationwide and there are transport costs associated with the provision of State accommodation.

These costs arise within the IPAS accommodation system and involves groups of residents who may be arriving, leaving and moving to different centres each week, for a range of reasons. Transport is required as part of some resident moves, and also can be provided for specific urgent needs, e.g. travel to urgent medical care appointments where public transport is not practicable.

Transport costs for 2025 of €2,223,717.55 were reported within the IPAS Accommodation system centrally. In addition to this, some transport costs will be arranged and included as part of overall IPAS accommodation centre contracts, and detailed information on this as a separate cost item, or by specific accommodation centre, is not available.