The Government is facing another crisis in providing accommodation for Ukrainian refugees and International Protection seekers as a large number of hotels will revert to tourism for the summer season.
Some 1,300 beds will be lost before the end of next month as contractors decide not to extend their contacts.
Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman has said that the shortages will affect both those who are arriving into the country, as well as those who are already here.
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In response to a parliamentary question from Sinn Féin TD Imelda Munster, Mr O’Gorman said that the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is encountering “significant challenges currently in providing accommodation to the elevated arrival numbers of international protection applicants”.
He warned that IPAS is also struggling to find accommodation for people who are already in Ireland and had been previously given somewhere to live.
“IPAS continues to rely on hotels for much of its existing accommodation capacity,” Minister O’Gorman said.
“However, a number of large hotels have informed IPAS that they are ending their contracts with IPAS either in full or partially. IPAS will lose 1,300 beds between now and the end of May 2023 as a result of contracts ending.
“Although families are being prioritised for accommodation, some families, as well as single persons, may be affected by the closures.
“Intensive efforts are being undertaken daily by staff in [the Department of Integration] to source emergency accommodation with over 2,000-bed spaces having been procured for use since 1st January 2023, which is not sufficient to meet demand.”
Mr O’Gorman also confirmed that the system has had to re-accommodate nearly 2,000 people who were in hotels or short-term emergency accommodation since the start of this year.
Of 1,400 people affected by hotel closures, just 1,200 had been re-accommodated.
As of March 28, 425 single male international protection applications had not been accommodated by the State at all.
Over 800 accommodation contracts have been put in place, with over 44,735 beds in hotels, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain emergency or repurposed settings, including sports facilities, tented accommodation and office buildings.
“All of the limited accommodation capacity within the IPAS system is currently being used,” Minister O’Gorman told People Before Profit’s Brid Smith.
Officials continue to seek accommodation solutions to the increasing numbers of IP arrivals and are in ongoing negotiations with providers to bring on more capacity that will meet basic needs and prevent homelessness.”
Minister O’Gorman also confirmed that negotiations are ongoing with several hotels to provide accommodation-only contracts for Ukrainian refugees.
Sources previously told the Irish Mirror that the Department of Integration was facing difficulties finding accommodation for International Protection Applicants due to a number of protests that have taken place outside hotels and other venues in recent months.
Ireland is now accommodating over 83,390 Ukrainian refugees and International Protection applicants. Some 63,090 Ukrainian refugees have sought accommodation, while 20,300 International Protection seekers are currently in IPAS accommodation.
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