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Number of people in direct provision surpasses 30,000

The majority of IP applicants are living in emergency accommodation
The majority of IP applicants are living in emergency accommodation

There are more than 30,000 people living in direct provision and emergency International Protection (IP) accommodation, according to the Department of Integration.

Figures in the latest Government report show a total of 30,027 were being housed in International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation as of 5 May.

That is an increase of 3,748 since the start of 2024. In March 2023, the number was 20,001.

The department figures show 610 IP applicants arrived in Ireland last week, the highest number of weekly arrivals this year, and an average of 87 a day.

Of those arrivals, 299 were single men. They are currently not automatically being offered accommodation on arrival amid the current shorage.

Accommodation is still being provided to women and children.

The majority of IP applicants in Ireland, 21,414 people, are living in 236 emergency accommodation centres. Of those, 5,137 are children.

A further 6,836 IP applicants, including 2,131 children, are living in one of 49 IPAS centres around the country.

The remaining 1,777 are living at either the National Reception Centre, the Citywest Transit Hub or at one of four tented accommodation sites.

Around 7,600 people have claimed for asylum since the start of this year, an increase of almost 4,000 on the figure of 3,628 new arrivals to the end of April 2023.

In March the Cabinet agreed a new comprehensive accommodation strategy for IP applicants, which aimed to address the current shortfall in beds while reforming the system over the longer term.

The reforms will see a move away from full reliance on private providers and towards a core of State-owned accommodation, delivering 14,000 State-owned beds by 2028.

Additional reporting: Laura Fletcher