Aontú leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín has received an answer to a parliamentary question from the Minister of Justice where the Minister admits that “data on IPAS Accommodation residents and their employment status is not collated by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS)”.
According to An Teachta Tóibín ‘this is a startling revelation. It shows that the despite all the talk from the government there is little progress made on the promise to ensure that individuals that are earning a wage should contribute to their accommodation costs. Everyone in the state who has the means to pay for their rent should make a contribution to their rent. It absolutely wrong that 2 people living in the same town, working at the same job, on the same income would be treated differently in terms of rent. That one would have to pay rent and the other wouldn’t, is unjust. It is damaging to cohesion. It will create bitterness and anger”.
“There has been a push by Labour and the Social Democrats back on this policy. There appears to be an effort to create a chilling effect around respectful discussion on the issue of immigration. It cannot be the case where between 70% – 80% of the population seek a stricter immigration system yet their political representatives are afraid to speak. The best solution to the extremist perspectives is healthy, robust and respectful debate”.
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For Written Answer on : 17/09/2025
Question Number(s): 830 Question Reference(s): 47877/25
Department: Justice, Home Affairs and Migration
Asked by: Peadar Tóibín T.D.
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QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Justice; Home Affairs and Migration the number of people who are currently in the IPAS system and working.
REPLY
Under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 230 of 2018), international protection applicants can apply for labour market access permission if they are fully cooperating with the IP process. While an application for labour market access can be made five months after the IP application, permission will only be granted once an applicant has waited six months from the date of their international protection application.
Providing reception conditions – accommodation and other basic supports – to people seeking international protection is part of Irish and EU law. People are entitled to accommodation for the duration of their applications for international protection.
The State is providing accommodation to almost 33,000 people who have applied for international protection, in over 320 centres nationwide.
Data on IPAS Accommodation residents and their employment status is not collated by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) in the manner requested by the Deputy.
My Department is developing a proposal for a contribution to cost scheme for people in international protection accommodation, in particular where those applicants are entitled to work.
This proposal will consider options to require adults who are in receipt of income and are living in IPAS accommodation, to make a contribution to their accommodation costs. Work has been done to examine similar schemes operating in other EU member states
My officials have engaged with a range of partners across Government Departments, including Revenue, the Department of Social Protection, and with stakeholders in the private sector, the NGO sector, and within the wider public sector as part of this work. A proposal for Government to review is expected to be progressed in 2025.
