Types of accommodation

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Irish Refugee Council Visit Website

Reception capacity and accommodation crisis

Available accommodation within the Direct Provision estate has been decreasing since 2016, due to a number of factors, including the expiry of contracts between IPAS and accommodation providers and the ongoing housing crisis, which is reducing available accommodation sites. Despite some bed spaces being re-introduced in the system in 2019,[1] the rise in the number of applicants led to 1,559 protection applicants being placed in temporary accommodation by the end of 2019. As of January 2023, the number of individuals resident in emergency accommodation had risen to 11,414.[2] As of February 2024, the number of individuals resident in emergency accommodation had further increased to 18,702.[3] As of February 2025, the total number of individuals residing in emergency accommodation was 24,974.[4] As of January 2026, the total number of individuals residing in emergency accommodation was 25,262.[5]

In the experience of the Irish Refugee Council in 2020 and 2021, requests for re-entry into Direct Provision under the Regulations by people who had not taken up an initial offer of accommodation or have since experienced a change in their circumstance have been refused on the grounds of a lack of accommodation or have been subject to considerable delays.

In 2022,[6] the Irish Refugee Council assisted approximately 147 international protection applicants experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness, many of whom were left without accommodation for weeks or months due to unanswered re-accommodation requests or evictions for alleged breaches of House Rules. In many cases, these withdrawals did not meet the limited grounds permitted under the Reception Conditions Regulations 2018, and applicants were not provided with written notification, making appeals impossible. While these breaches continued through 2024 and, as of 2025, still occur to a lesser extent, most applicants now receive written notification outlining the reasons for the withdrawal of reception conditions. [7]

The personal circumstances of persons living outside Direct Provision are generally unknown. According to figures supplied by IPAS, as of January 2022, 902 international protection applicants were living outside Direct Provision in private rented accommodation. In terms of people who lived in Direct Provision and then subsequently left it for whatever reasons whilst their asylum application was pending, for example to live with family members, a partner or friends, it is very difficult to access the Direct Provision system again, should their situation change.

Throughout 2024, there was a significant increase in the number of alleged arson attacks carried out on sites designated for use as Direct Provision accommodation by anti-migrant protesters. A disused convent in Lanesboro, Co Longford was set on fire in January. The building was going to be used to house 85 Ukrainians, but the owner pulled out of an agreement with the Department of Integration after the fire due to concerns for his family’s safety. Subsequently, in February 2024, the former St. Brigid’s Nursing Home in Crooksling was also the subject of an arson attack, with more than 40 firefighters required to bring the fire under control. The site subsequently became operational as tented accommodation for single males. In April, a building known as Trudder House in Newtonmountkennedy village in Wicklow was set on fire. The Department of Integration had been assessing the site after it accepted a HSE offer to use the vacant building and its grounds to accommodate asylum seekers. In July 2024, violence broke out at a site in Coolock that was earmarked to house asylum seekers but which had been the subject of a blockade by protesters for a number of months. The protests began as a company began works on the site. Almost 200 gardaí were involved in dealing with the disorder, in which fireworks and rocks were thrown. 15 people were arrested and charged on the evening of the incident, with several more following.[8]

Further violent incidents targeting people seeking international protection occurred throughout 2025. On 22 October, a violent protest took place outside Citywest Convention Centre. Approximately 2,000 people attended the protest which was organised following an alleged sexual assault of a child in the locality of the hotel the previous day. Numerous arrests were made and a police van was set on fire during the ensuing violence.[9] Subsequently, on 31 October, a building accommodating asylum applicants in Drogheda, Co. Louth was deliberately set on fire. Four children, including a baby, and an adult were rescued from the top floor. Several people, including two children, were taken to hospital for assessment while an additional 23 people were relocated to alternative accommodation.[10]

Direct Provision centres

As of February 2024, there were 270 Direct Provision centres located nationwide, including 216 emergency centres and three centres containing tented accommodation.[11] As of February 2025, there were 320 Direct Provision centres located nationwide, including 265 emergency centres and six centres containing tented accommodation.[12] As of January 2026, there were 312 Direct Provision Centres located nationwide, including 159 emergency centres and 2 centres containing tented accommodation.[13]

The capacity and occupancy of Direct Provisions centres in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 were as follows:

Source:

• Figures for 2022 (valid as of January 2023): IPAS, DCEDIY IPAS – Weekly Stats, 29 January 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/3Y42e37.
• Figures for 2023 (valid as of February 2024): According to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, figures in respect of capacity for 2023 could not be provided due to “variability of data as a result of the emergency nature of the accommodation”, as well as for reasons of privacy and security (Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Response to Parliamentary Question No. 1080, 20 March 2024, available at: https://tinyurl.com/2mnz8jsr); occupancy figures from IPAS, ‘IPAS Statistics Weekly Report’, 4 February 2024, available at: https://bit.ly/4aP5UvN.
• Figures for 2024 (valid as of 2^nd February 2025): IPAS, DCEDIY IPAS – Weekly Stats, 2 February 2025, available at: https://tinyurl.com/2js3rwtn.
• Figures for 2025 (valid as of 15^th of March 2026); IPAS, IPAS Weekly Stats, 15 March 2026.

As of February 2024, 27,106 people resided in Direct Provision, 6,067 of whom were children.[14] As of February 2025, there were 32, 948 people resident in Direct Provision, 9,162 of whom were children.[15] As of January 2026, 33,215 people resided in Direct Provision, 9,759 of whom were children.[16]

Of those centres in the IPAS portfolio, only three were built (“system built”) for the express purpose of accommodating protection applicants. The majority of the portfolio comprises buildings which had a different initial purpose i.e., former hotels, guesthouses (B&B), hostels, former convents / nursing Homes, a holiday camp and a mobile home site. IPAS is considering the option of moving towards a capital investment-based approach in the provision of accommodation that would involve building customised facilities.[17]

The Balseskin reception centre, with a capacity of 537, was previously designated as a reception centre where all newly arrived protection applicants are accommodated. The centre as of 15 September 2020 had an occupancy rate of 264 out of 537 places.[18] However, In March 2022, Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre was contracted by the International Protection Accommodation Service and repurposed as a transit hub for the processing of beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, as well as for the accommodation of newly arrived international protection applicants. The vast majority of newly arrived protection applicants are now accommodated at Citywest. As of February 2024, 558 applicants were resident at the facility.[19] As of February 2025, 451 applicants were resident at the facility.[20] As of January 2026, there were 363 international protection applicants resident at the facility.[21]

Direct provision centres management and evaluation

Seven centres are state-owned: Knockalisheen, Clare; Kinsale Road, Cork; Atlas House Killarney, Atlas House Tralee, Johnston Marina and Park Lodge, Kerry; and Athlone, Westmeath. Seven centres are owned by the Irish State with the remainder privately owned. All reception centres are operated by private external service providers who have a contract with IPAS. Executive responsibility for the day-to-day management of reception centres lies with the private agencies, which provide services such as accommodation, catering, housekeeping etc. As of October 2020, there were 26 private companies that have a contract for services with the Department of Justice for the provision of premises that meet required standards and support services for protection applicants. Of these companies, two have a contract to provide management, catering, housekeeping and general maintenance services in state owned accommodation centres.[22] By 2023, 859 companies were contracted to provide accommodation, 32 of which received over €10 million.[23] Information in respect of the number of private companies contracted to provide accommodation for 2025 was not available at the time of updating (January 2026).

The Department of Children is responsible for overseeing reception services for asylum seekers under legally binding National Standards introduced in January 2021. Although independent monitoring was expected, inspections initially continued to be carried out by IPAS and its contractors. In 2021–2022, the Department worked with HIQA, stakeholders, and an Expert Advisory Group, and drafted regulations to establish a legal basis for HIQA to independently monitor compliance with the National Standards.

As of 9 January 2024, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) assumed the responsibility for monitoring and inspecting International Protection Accommodations Service centres against the legally binding National Standards for Accommodation Offered to People in the Protection Process. This function was provided to HIQA by an amendment to the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 by way of the European Communities (Reception Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 649 of 2023).[24]

In April 2024, HIQA published its first inspection reports.[25] As of November 2024, reports had been published in respect of nine centres. Three of the centres inspected were found to have no non-compliances identified against the National Standards. The remaining six had varying levels of compliance. The areas of non-compliance identified included assessment and response to special needs of residents, contingency planning and preparedness, accommodation, food, catering and cooking facilities, governance, accountability and leadership, responsiveness of workforce and safeguarding and protection.[26] In one of the centres, inspectors found that a safeguarding incident involving the welfare of four children was not managed in line with national policy or guidance.[27]

HIQA published multiple inspection statements over the course of 2025, with inspection reports released in January, February, May, June, August, November and December 2025. These covered a broad range of permanent IPAS centres located in counties across the country.[28] Several were found to have no non-compliances identified against the National Standards. However, a number of non-compliances were also identified across inspections. Common themes included instances where leadership structures, reporting systems or awareness of responsibilities amongst centre staff were insufficient,[29] inadequate implementation of safeguarding procedures,[30] substandard accommodation arrangements,[31] inadequate contingency planning and emergency preparedness, and ineffective systems for identifying and responding to the special needs of residents.[32] For each instance of non-compliance, HIQA required that service providers submit comprehensive compliance plans outlining how deficits would be addressed in order to achieve full compliance with the national standards.

Whereby centres are subject to inspection, a HIQA inspector will visit the IPAS centre and speak with residents, members of staff and centre managers in order to gain an insight into how the service is run. Inspectors will also examine records held by IPAS centres. Some inspections will be announced, while others will be unannounced. After the inspection, HIQA inspectors will prepare a report in respect of the centre and determine the quality of the services and support provided. Inspection reports will be published on HIQA’s website under the inspection reports section. If improvements are required in IPAS centres, the service provider will be required to submit a plan on how and when these improvements will be made. The implementation of these plans will be closely monitored by HIQA.[33]

While the commencement of HIQA’s inspection and monitoring function is welcomed, the Irish Refugee Council remains deeply concerned regarding the exclusion of emergency centres from HIQA’s remit. In the experience of the IRC, the most difficult conditions persist within ‘emergency’ and ‘pre-reception’ facilities, and not in permanent centres. Additionally, the number of emergency centres operating in the country has far surpassed that of permanent centres. As of January 2026, IPAS operated 312 properties across the State, of which just 49 were permanent centres.[34]

Emergency Accommodation Beds

In September 2018, the Direct Provision estate reached capacity and no accommodation was available for newly arriving protection applicants, as the Balseskin centre had no available places. After intensive representations and media attention on the issue, alternative accommodation was provided by IPAS on an emergency basis. This involved the contracting of accommodation in hotels and holiday homes to house protection applicants on a temporary basis pending IPAS contracting for more permanent accommodation centres.[35]

As of January 2026, capacity within the Direct Provision accommodation system remained a significant and ongoing issue. 2025 saw the continued reliance on the use of emergency centres. Such centres often comprised of disused offices, large conference rooms, schools, and sports halls in order to accommodate international protection applicants. The Irish Refugee Council has been alerted to numerous grievous risks to vulnerable residents accommodated in these centres, including to women and minor children. These reports included significant child protection issues and serious privacy concerns. Throughout 2024, the State also continued to use tented accommodation to accommodate international protection applicants at various locations around the country. While initially intended as a temporary measure, many applicants spent months residing in wholly unsuitable accommodation which did not meet their basic needs and exposed them to at times freezing and wet weather conditions.

In March 2024, it was announced that the site of a former nursing home, located at Crooksling in southwest Dublin, would be repurposed for use as tented accommodation for male international protection applicants.[36] Following the opening of the site, many residents reported sub-standard living conditions which posed a risk to the health, personal safety, and wellbeing of individuals living at the facility. Initially it was believed that accommodation at the site would be offered as an alternative to street homelessness in respect of applicants who were not offered accommodation on arrival in the State. However, it subsequently became apparent that the site would be classified as ‘a designated accommodation centre’ for the purposes of granting material reception conditions. Many individuals would therefore spend indefinite periods at the site following periods of homelessness on arrival in the State. In July 2024, it emerged that a resident, accommodated at the site following a period of homelessness upon his arrival in the State, had instigated legal proceedings against the State, alleging that the facility does not meet his basic needs, as required by the Reception Conditions Directive 2013. The proceedings were ongoing at the time of updating in May 2025.[37]

The Irish Refugee Council visited the site in September 2024, during which residents also reported an apparent lack of governance and oversight within the facility, particularly regarding the needs of the residents, with no central manager present on site. The isolated location of the facility, as well as lack of public transport links also meant that residents had difficulty accessing employment in addition to basic services.[38] The levels of stress, anxiety and frustration amongst residents were also apparent, with many residents reporting a significant deterioration in their mental health since arriving at the facility.[39] There were also reports of harassment of residents at the site by far right agitators, including verbal harassment and the flying of drones over the site in order to obtain aerial footage of same.[40]

Similar tented facilities were established at Newtown Mount Kennedy, Co. Wicklow and Athlone, Co. Westmeath throughout 2024, bringing to six the total number of tented accommodation facilities in the State. Approximately 812 international protection applicants were accommodated at these facilities as of 15 December 2024.[41] As of January 2026, there were two tented accommodation facilities in operation, accommodating approximately 231 applicants.[42]

Plans for an additional tented accommodation facility to be located at Thornton Hall, Co. Dublin were temporarily suspended on 5 November 2024, after the State indicated its intention not to contest judicial review proceedings instigated in respect of the proposed development. The proceedings were instigated by local residents who alleged that a Ministerial Order made in respect of the site ought not be allowed to stand due to a lack of adequate environmental screening having been conducted in advance of establishment of the facility.[43] Subsequently, on 18 November 2024, it was reported that a revised Ministerial Order would be issued ‘within weeks’, however, development of the site remained suspended.[44] The proceedings followed several months of disruptive protests at the site by locals who objected to the development.[45]

In late 2025, the High Court formally quashed the ministerial order that had allowed the centre to be set up without full planning and environmental approval, declaring the centre’s fast-tracked approval legally invalid. However, the judge allowed a four-month stay on the order taking effect and on this basis, the Government has until early March 2026 to pass corrective legislation. Throughout the course of proceedings, the centre continued to operate, albeit at a significantly reduced capacity. However, as of late 2025, the temporary structures on the site were dismantled and the site was cleared.[46]

By February 2024, 18, 702 individuals were residing across 216 centres.[47] As of February 2025, this figure had increased to 24, 975 individuals across 265 centres.[48] As of January 2026, there were 33,215 individuals residing across 312 centres.[49]

The living conditions in these emergency accommodation locations are clearly unsuitable for the needs of protection applicants and fail to fulfil IPAS’s obligations under the EU recast Reception Conditions Directive (see Conditions in reception facilities).

Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres (EROC)

Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres (EROC) were specifically designed for the accommodation of persons arriving in Ireland through relocation and resettlement.[50] There are three EROC located in Waterford, Roscommon, and Meath. As of March 2024, there was a total contracted capacity of 545 places across three EROC centres and 447 individuals resided in the three centres.[51] As of April 2025, there was a total contracted capacity of 525 beds across 3 centres and 465 individuals lived in the three centres.[52] As of April 2026, there was a total contracted capacity of 545 beds across 3 centres and a total of 470 individuals lived in the three centres.[53]

[1] Ombudsman, The Ombudsman & Direct Provision: Update for 2019, April 2019, available here.

[2] IPAS, DCEDIY IPAS – Weekly Stats, 29 January 2022, available here.

[3] IPAS, ‘IPAS Statistics Weekly Report’, 4 February 2024, available here.

[4] IPAS, ‘IPAS Statistics Weekly Report’, 2 February 2024, available here.

[5] IPAS, ‘IPAS Statistics Weekly Report’, 18 January 2026, available here.

[6] For further details, please see previous updates to this country report, available here.

[7] Information provided by Irish Refugee Council’s Information and Advocacy Service, January 2026.

[8] The Journal, ‘How arson attacks on properties linked to asylum seekers have escalated over the last six years’, 16 July 2024, available here.

[9] The Journal, ‘Citywest: How a ‘peaceful’ protest resulted in injured gardaí and a burned out garda van’, 22 October 2025, available here.

[10] The Irish Times, ‘Drogheda arson attack: ‘The house is on fire. Please answer’, 3 November 2025, available here.

[11] IPAS, ‘IPAS Statistics Weekly Report’, 4 February 2024, available here.

[12] IPAS, ‘IPAS Statistics Weekly Report’, 2 February 2025, available here.

[13] IPAS, ‘IPAS Statistics Weekly Report’, 18 January 2026, available here.

[14] IPAS, ‘IPAS Statistics Weekly Report’, 4 February 2024, available here.

[15] IPAS, ‘IPAS Statistics Weekly Report’, 2 February 2025, available here.

[16] IPAS, ‘IPAS Statistics Weekly Report’, 18 January 2026, available here.

[17] Ombudsman, The Ombudsman & Direct Provision: Update for 2019, April 2020, available here.

[18] ibid.

[19] IPAS, ‘IPAS Statistics Weekly Report’, 4 February 2024, available here.

[20] IPAS, ‘IPAS Statistics Weekly Report’, 2 February 2025, available here.

[21] IPAS, ‘IPAS Statistics Weekly Report’, 18 January 2026, available here.

[22] Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman, Response to Parliamentary question nos 469, 470, 2 February 2021, available here.

[23] The Journal, ‘Hotels, State Bodies and Direct Provision: The companies behind Ireland’s refugee housing sector’, 14 April 2024, available here.

[24] HIQA, ‘International Protection Accommodation’, January 2024, available here.

[25] ibid.

[26] Breakingnews.ie, ‘Non-compliance with food and protection found in some direct provision centres – HIQA, 27 November 2024, available here.

[27] ibid.

[28] HIQA, ‘Inspection Reports’, available here.

[29] HIQA, ‘International Protection Accommodation Service centres publication statement 15 August 2025’, 15^th August 2025, available here.

[30] HIQA, ‘International Protection Accommodation Service centres publication statement 05 November 2025’, 5^th November 2025, available here.

[31] ibid.

[32] ibid.

[33] ibid.

[34] IPAS, ‘IPAS Statistics Weekly Report’, 4 February 2024, available here.

[35] Irish Times, ‘Hotels in the east being used as temporary direct provision centres’, 19 November 2018, available here.

[36] Information provided by Iirsh Refugee Council Information and Advocacy Service, January 2025.

[37] Irish Examiner, ‘High Court hears of challenges against using tents to accommodate asylum seekers’, 26 July 2024, available here.

[38] Information provided by Irish Refugee Council Information and Advocacy Service, January 2025.

[39] ibid.

[40] Dublin Inquirer,’ At Crooksling’s asylum shelter, harassment on the ground and drones in the sky’, 11 September 2024, available here.

[41] International Protection Accommodation Service, ‘IPAS Weekly Accommodation and Arrival Statistics – 15th December 2024’, 15 December 2024, available here.

[42] International Protection Accommodation Service, ‘IPAS Weekly Accommodation and Arrival Statistics, 18 January 2026, available here.

[43] Irish Examiner, ‘Thornton Hall plan to house 1,000 asylum seekers thrown into doubt’, 5 November 2024, available here.

[44] Irish Times, ‘‘New Ministerial Order to be made in weeks’, says Dept’, 18 November 2024, available here.

[45] Breakingnews.ie, ‘Thornton Hall protestor recorded making clear threat to security on site, court told’, 12 August 2024, available here.

[46] Extra.ie, ‘Athlone Direct Provision Centre halted by High Court over planning failures’, 1 January 2025, available here.

[47] IPAS, ‘IPAS Statistics Weekly Report’, 4 February 2024, available here.

[48] IPAS, ‘IPAS Weekly Accommodation and Arrivals Statistics’, 2 February 2025, available here.

[49] International Protection Accommodation Service, ‘IPAS Weekly Accommodation and Arrival Statistics, 18 January 2026, available here.

[50] INIS, ‘Ministers Flanagan and Stanton welcome Syrian refugee families to Ireland’, 27 December 2018, available here.

[51] Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Response to Parliamentary Question No 1081, 20 March 2023, available here.

[52] Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Response to Parliamentary Question No 240, 9 April 2025, available here.

[53] Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Response to Parliamentary Question No 2039, 14 April 2026, available here.

[54] Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Response to Parliamentary Question No 1081, 20 March 2023, available here.

[55] Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Response to Parliamentary Question No 2039, 14 April 2026, available here.