450 people in Cork ‘trapped’ in international protection centres due to lack of accommodation elsewhere

Hundreds of people in Cork are “trapped” in IPAS centres due to a “broken” housing system, a Cork TD has said.

Four hundred and fifty people in Cork International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) centres, and 5,300 nationally, have been granted permission to stay in Ireland, but have been unable to leave the centres due to a lack of alternative accommodation.

Once granted permission to remain, or refugee status, you are entitled to rights and responsibilities similar to an Irish citizen, including employment, housing, social welfare, education, and health.

A spokesperson for the Department of Integration told The Echo: “The State is currently accommodating almost 33,000 people in IPAS centres.

“Most of these people are going through the international-protection application process and can be at different stages of that process.

“Some people currently staying in international-protection accommodation have completed their application process and have been granted status or permission to remain (PTR).

“As of December 2024, approximately 5,300 of those accommodated in IPAS centres have been granted status or PTR.

“This includes approximately 450 people staying in IPAS centres across the county of Cork.”

They explained: “People with status have the same housing entitlements as Irish citizens and are supported to register with a local authority and, if required, to avail of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) to secure alternative accommodation.

“The department is very mindful of the challenges that exist for people in trying to move on from the international-protection system, as there is significant pressure on housing availability within the private rental sector, social-housing, and housing market across Ireland.

“The department never allows people with status to be left without accommodation, even though there is no formal legal entitlement to provide people with status with accommodation.”

It comes as HIQA have repeatedly highlighted the high percentage of people in Cork IPAS centres who have been granted PTR, but who remain occupying beds in centres, including 111 people, or 63% of the residents, in an accommodation centre on the Kinsale Road.

Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould told The Echo: “This housing crisis is far-reaching and pervasive. Its impacts are felt by everyone, but most acutely by our most vulnerable.

“Many of these people, trapped in direct provision, are our healthcare workers, our shop workers, and our friends. They’ve built lives here and fled war and persecution.

“Many of these people have jobs and should be in the private rental sector, but the reality is that availability just isn’t there. The housing system is broken.”

The 5,300 people nationally live in IPAS centres despite no longer needing to be there even as 3,000 international-protection applicants were without an offer of accommodation last year due to a lack of places.