International Protection Accommodation and Supports

While people are waiting for their decision on international protection the government is legally obliged by EU and International law to provide them with basic supports.

This includes somewhere to stay, education for children and an allowance of €38.80 per week for an adult and €29.80 per week for a child. People seeking international protection are not entitled to any standard social welfare or housing benefits.
After six months, people may be eligible to work if they have not received a first decision on their application.

The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) provides the accommodation and other basic supports to people applying for international protection. Living in a centre is completely voluntary and residents may leave at any time. Some people choose to live with family or friends already living in the community or can source and provide for their own accommodation.

Information for residents of IPAS is available here.

More information on IPAS policies can be found here.

Accommodation Centers and Contracting
Accommodation is provided in a wide range of centres and locations. Some centres are located on State-owned lands, and some are provided through external providers. There are over 300 accommodation centres all over Ireland.

All accommodation centres are subject to routine inspections and compliance checks during the lifetime of the contract.

Inspections of IPAS accommodation centres are carried out regularly, either by HIQA, an independent inspections company or by officials from the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. More information on these reports can be found here.

The Government is now implementing a Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy for International Protection which aims to reform the accommodation system and address shortages. It plans to deliver more sustainable accommodation by reducing reliance on private providers by delivering 14,000 State-owned beds by 2028 through modular units, building conversions, and direct purchases. As developing a more sustainable state-owned accommodation system will take time, the commissioning of emergency commercial accommodation will continue to be a feature in the short to medium term.

Community Engagement
The opening of new accommodation centres can raise questions in communities. The Community Engagement Team works to improve the flow of accurate information to local communities regarding arrivals into areas. They also assist with the welcome and integration process for new arrivals.

The team engages directly with elected representatives, Local Authorities, Local Development Companies, civil society, individuals and other stakeholders around a new centre opening.

Different sites and openings have different engagement needs, and the team aims to be flexible to meet the needs of the community. Some communities require a simple sharing of information through the relevant channels whilst others may need more detailed meetings with local community groups, local officials, public representatives and other key stakeholders.

To contact the Community Engagement Team please email CommunityEngagement@justice.ie

Find out more about centres being developed under the Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy:
Citywest Hotel and Conference Centre
Thornton Hall