Over €2.2m spent on taxis and buses for international protection applicants last year
Darragh Mc Donagh
More than €2.2 million was spent on taxis and buses for the transportation of international protection applicants last year, new figures have revealed.
The journeys included travel from points of entry into the state to designated IPAS facilities, from the International Protection Office in Dublin to accommodation centres, and transfers between IPAS locations.
They also included taxi trips to and from IPAS centres for specific urgent needs, such as medical appointments, where travel by public transport was not practicable.
The travel costs for 2025 were published by Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan, who said taxi journeys may be the most economical option where smaller groups of residents require transport, and may also be required at short notice or out of hours.
“Over 33,000 people are currently resident in 309 IPAS accommodation centres nationwide, and there are transport costs associated with the provision of state accommodation,” he explained.
“These costs arise within the IPAS accommodation system and involve groups of residents who may be arriving, leaving or moving to different centres each week for a range of reasons.
“Transport is required as part of some resident moves, and also can be provided for specific urgent needs, such as travel to urgent medical care appointments where public transport is not practicable,” added O’Callaghan.
A total of €2,223,718 was spent on transport for international protection applicants last year, not including some transport costs arranged and covered under IPAS accommodation contracts.
The figures were provided by the minister in response to a parliamentary question from Independent Ireland TD Ken O’Flynn.
O’Callaghan said the travel included journeys from points of entry into the state, but also from the International Protection Office in Dublin, where a “significant” proportion of applicants present directly.
Last year, Mr O’Flynn criticised the use of around €1.6 million to buy and lease vehicles for international protection applicants from Ukraine under the Community Car Initiative (CCI).
He described the expenditure under the scheme as “utterly astonishing, financially indefensible, and the tip of a very expensive iceberg”.
