From International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS); Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
Accommodation Centres provide accommodation for people who have sought International Protection from their home country. Living in a centre is voluntary and residents can leave at any time.
Some International Protection applicants may also choose to live with family or friends already living in the community or can source and provide for their own accommodation.
As a division of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is responsible for the provision of accommodation and related services to people in the International Protection process. Under EU and International Law, Ireland is obliged to examine the claim of any person who arrives into the country and claims International Protection.
While that claim is being examined by the Department of Justice, IPAS offers accommodation and related services to International Protection applicants who wish to accept the offer of accommodation from the Irish State.
This includes all meals and utilities. Full access to public medical services is provided and weekly personal allowance is also paid to each person (€38.80 for adults and €29.80 for children). After six months, International Protection applicants are eligible to work if they have not received a first decision on their application. For more information, please see the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service’s website.
IPAS offers accommodation and related services to international protection seekers who wish to accept the offer of accommodation from the Irish State. Living in a centre is completely voluntary and residents may leave at any time and source their own accommodation.
IPAS has no role in the processing of International Protection applications or in the application decision-making process. International Protection applicants should direct queries related to their application to the International Protection Office (IPO) within the Department of Justice. The IPO is an office within the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD), responsible for examining and processing applications for International Protection. For more information see contact details below.
IPAS used to be known as the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA).
Reception services for International Protection applicants refers to a range of services offered to persons who have applied for an International Protection status (refugee or subsidiary protection) or for a permission to remain in the country.
These services, including accommodation provision, are offered to persons who do not have the means to provide for themselves. The services are provided by a range of government departments and agencies and are commonly known as Direct Provision.
Under EU and International Law, Ireland is obliged to examine the claim of any person who arrives here and claims International Protection. While that claim is being examined by the Department of Justice, IPAS offers accommodation and related services to International Protection applicants who wish to accept the offer of accommodation from the Irish State.
A number of departments from the Irish Government work together to provide the following services for people living in accommodation centres:
A number of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) provide support to International Protection applicants. These include initiatives funded by the DCEDIY such as a confidential resident helpline, psychosocial support to a number of locations, and an orientation programme in the National Reception Centre. There is also a DCEDIY funded programme to assist Accommodation Centre residents to move into accommodation in the community once they have successfully received a protection status or a permission to reside in the State.
Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, TD, published the 'White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a new International Protection Support Service'. The White Paper outlines how the government plans to establish a new system for accommodation and supports for International Protection applicants.
Under the new system, people who are applying for protection will be helped to integrate into Irish life, with health, housing, education, and employment supports at the core of the system. Under the new system, when people arrive in Ireland seeking International Protection, they will stay in one of a number of new Reception and Integration Centres for no more than four months. These centres will be newly built and will be operated by not-for-profit organisations on behalf of the State.
After four months in a State-owned centre, the intention is that applicants will move into own-door accommodation provided through a mix of urban renewal and community hosting schemes as well as by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs). A means-tested rent will be paid by applicants for this accommodation.
Under the new plan, applicants will be entitled to seek paid work after six months, and they will be encouraged and supported to do so. Integration supports will continue to be available to people who need them. The transition to the new system will be led by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
If you are an International Protection applicant and have a question about accommodation or related services, please contact the following postal or email address:
The department is precluded, for reasons relating to data protection and the provisions of the International Protection Act, 2015 from disclosing information in relation to any individual who may be an International Protection applicant to a third party, other than the legal representative of such a person or a person approved, in writing, by the applicant to represent them. It should also be noted that the publication of information on an International Protection applicant may be an offence under Section 26 of the International Protection Act 2015.
