Some 376 asylum seekers were awaiting an offer of housing this week

International Protection Accommodation Services reports that there were 26,176 in State accommodation on Christmas Day 2023 — and the equivalent figure for 2018 was 6,106

A queue outside the International Protection Office in Dublin last month. Picture: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

Some 376 asylum seekers were awaiting an offer of housing on Tuesday as new accommodation for those seeking international protection remains in short supply.

In November, the Government warned that single men arriving in Ireland may not be offered State-provided accommodation, with the policy coming into effect on December 4. 

The Department of Integration says that, since then, 500 eligible men presented to its services. A total of 58 of those were offered accommodation after an "accommodation and vulnerability triage" and 66 have been accommodated since, leaving 376 awaiting State-provided accommodation.

Within the Government, there is some alarm at the numbers who arrived over Christmas, with 414 arrivals of non-Ukrainian refugees into the State in the week before Christmas Eve. 

The weekly International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) report for December 24 shows that on Christmas Day 2018, there were 6,106 people in State accommodation. That figure was 26,176 on Christmas Day 2023.

Ireland is currently accommodating more than 100,000 people between those fleeing Ukraine, and International Protection (IP) applicants. 

This includes over 74,000 Ukrainian people who have sought accommodation from the State and over 26,000 IP applicants currently in IPAS accommodation.

Sources said that there has been little change to the pre-Christmas landscape in terms of available accommodation, but stressed that all avenues are being explored. However, the placement of facilities has become an issue following several high-profile incidents at centres earmarked for use.

Gardaí are investigating the criminal damage of the former Shipwright pub in Ringsend in Dublin, which came after another building which was also earmarked to house refugees, was set on fire in Rosscahill in Co Galway last month.

The Ringsend site had been picketed for weeks, but was never to be used as accommodation for asylum seekers and was to be a family hub for homeless people. Local councillors have criticised the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) for not engaging with them and creating a "vacuum of information". But the DRHE responded that it had responded to councillors who had made contact with it.

"The DRHE was contacted directly by local politicians and people from the area about the proposed use Shipwright. 

"It is correct to say we were not contacted by all residents and locally based politicians and therefore some may not have been aware of our intention to use the accommodate for homeless families. It had been agreed with one cllr who contacted us that if we were meeting residents we would inform all Cllrs but events overtook."

The rumour that the building would be used by IPAS spread on far-right social media from the middle of December, with videos showing threats made against another publican in the area and claims it was a "human trafficking centre".

The department said that those who are not housed are given an additional payment.

"All male IPAs [international protection applicants] who present to the International Protection Office (IPO) during this period are assessed by IPAS and HSE staff for significant vulnerabilities and health issues, and prioritised for accommodation as necessary.

"IPAs who are not provided with accommodation will receive a temporary increase of €75 to their Daily Expense Allowance (DEA). This will increase the allowance from the current rate of €38.80 per week to €113.80 a week for all eligible applicants."