In the latest Government report, it was revealed that there are more than 30,000 people living in direct provision and emergency International Protection (IP) accommodation in Ireland. This number has significantly increased since the start of 2024, with 610 IP applicants arriving just last week, the highest number of weekly arrivals this year.
The majority of IP applicants, totaling 21,414 people, are currently housed in 236 emergency accommodation centers, with 5,137 being children. Additionally, 6,836 IP applicants, including 2,131 children, are residing in one of 49 IPAS centers across the country.
To address the current shortfall in beds and reform the system over the long term, the Cabinet has approved a new comprehensive accommodation strategy for IP applicants. This plan includes moving away from full reliance on private providers and increasing the number of State-owned accommodation beds to 14,000 by 2028.
With these reforms in place, the goal is to improve living conditions for those seeking international protection in Ireland while ensuring a more sustainable and efficient system in the future.