The Irish State has spent €2.5 billion accommodating individuals seeking international protection since 2019, with an average daily expenditure of €2.75 million. This significant cost increase is attributed to a sharp rise in the number of applicants since 2022. The figures also show the breakdown of accommodation by nationality and the different programs in place to support both IP applicants and Ukrainian BOTPs.
Since the start of 2019, the Irish State has incurred a substantial expenditure of €2.5 billion in accommodating individuals seeking international protection (IP applicants). Newly released figures from the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Norma Foley, reveal an average daily outlay of €2.75 million, with last year's spending reaching €1.005 billion, marking a 54% surge compared to the €651.75 million allocated in 2023.
This significant increase in expenditure is attributed to a sharp rise in the number of IP applicants since 2022. The Minister emphasized that the cost per night fluctuates due to various factors, including the number of residents and the type of accommodation centers utilized. The figures indicate that Nigeria has the highest number of individuals in IPAS accommodation, with 6,914, followed by Georgia (3,072), Algeria (2,733), Somalia (2,388), Zimbabwe (2,209), Jordan (2,157), Afghanistan (1,715), Pakistan (1,656), Bangladesh (1,373), and South Africa (1,249).The accommodation costs encompass not only lodging but also ancillary expenses such as facilities management and other related expenditures. Ms. Foley clarified that out of the total number of individuals currently accommodated, approximately 9,000 are children residing with their families. The Irish government, she stated, is obligated under both Irish and EU law, as well as humanitarian principles, to provide reception conditions, including accommodation and basic support, to individuals seeking international protection. The government is actively working towards developing a sustainable accommodation system in the coming years, aiming to reduce reliance on commercial providers.In a separate response to Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy, Ms. Foley revealed that since the beginning of 2022, the Irish State has disbursed €239 million to 22,399 accommodation providers for housing 49,840 beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) under a program designed to accommodate Ukrainians. This payout is facilitated through the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP), a monthly €800 payment available to those providing accommodation to individuals who arrived in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive. She stated that over 15,500 hosts are currently accommodating nearly 36,000 BOTPs in over 19,000 accommodations. Ms. Foley clarified that the ARP is not intended to create a landlord-tenant relationship between the accommodating host and the Ukrainian residents, nor does it automatically grant tenancy rights. The figures provided by Ms. Foley indicate that Dublin has the highest number of individuals receiving the ARP at 4,518, followed by Cork (1,828), Donegal (1,305), Mayo (1,266), Galway (1,133), Kildare (1,029), and Kerry (1,022)
INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION ACCOMMODATION COSTS IP APPLICANTS BOTPS UKRAINIAN REFUGEES IRELAND
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