600 families to be moved out of IPAS centres as charity calls for relocation of over 2,000 people to be delayed
Charity workers close to the 2,042 people who have received notice to leave have asked that the exits be delayed.
The Department has said the families were informed about the planned relocation a year ago and were sent a follow-up letter in March.
The first move will take place tomorrow and will continue on a phased basis for the rest of the summer.
The transfer procedure began under the previous government when the Department of Children was responsible for the accommodation of international protection applicants.
In the past 18 months, over 7,000 people with status have left IPAS accommodation, after the Department of Justice took over responsibility.
Read more in News
A spokesperson for the department said that everyone who had been notified would be moved, except for 'very rare circumstances' such as medical reasons.
The Department of Housing has confirmed they are seeing an increased demand for homes from families who have recently left Direct Provision accommodation.
The Government has acknowledged that while numbers arriving had reduced compared to 2024, they said: 'There is still on average 1,000 people applying for international protection every month.'
A statement from the Department of Justice said: 'Of our nearly 33,000 residents, approximately 5,300 people have completed their application process and have received a positive decision. This means they have a legal status that allows them to remain in Ireland, and to work.
Most read in the Irish Sun
'It also means that they are no longer entitled to IPAS accommodation. However, they are now able to access the full range of housing support available to all Irish residents. These housing supports are not available to people who are still going through the international protection application process.'
Some of the families who have been told that they have to leave today and have accepted a transfer to emergency accommodation remain unaware where they will end up, according to the Irish Refugee Council.
APPROACH CONCERNS
In a statement, it said: 'We are particularly concerned that families who do not accept a transfer will be pushed into already overstretched homeless services and are at high risk of rough sleeping during this transition.'
In a statement, the Irish Refugee Council said the rise in homelessness among people leaving Direct Provision was as a direct result of Government policy.
At a recent Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Director of the Dublin Region Homeless Executive Mary Hayes also expressed concern about the approach.
She said: 'We are concerned about institutional discharge from one institution into another. That does not seem to be well-thought through or a planned approach to homelessness. That is particularly so with IPAS which is driving about a quarter of the presentations of single homelessness.'
1
On average, 1,000 people are applying for international protection every month here
Credit: Bryan Meade - The Times
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
an hour ago
- The Journal
Taoiseach warns trade ban on Israeli settlements could hit Irish companies under US anti-boycott laws
TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has said the government must tread carefully when considering the expansion of its proposed trade ban with Israeli settlements, stressing that including services could inadvertently harm Irish-based multinational companies due to US anti-boycott legislation. His comments come after Tánaiste Simon Harris last week published a fresh outline of the Occupied Territories Bill, which seeks to prohibit the import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements. The bill will affect imports from the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights – territories occupied since 1967 and widely recognised under international law as illegally held. While the current draft focuses on goods only, Harris has signalled that he wants to include services in a future version of the bill. However, Martin expressed concern about the legal and economic risks of doing so. 'That's an issue we have to factor in, because we don't want any companies or multinationals in Ireland inadvertently being caught up in this,' he said, referring to US anti-boycott laws. Martin made the comments today during a visit to Japan. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo 'We do have to factor in the presence of American legislation, the boycotting divestment legislation, which is already passed by numerous states in America, which would penalise any company that, from an American perspective, participates in boycotts.' Martin said that several US states have passed anti-Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) laws, which penalise companies seen as boycotting Israel or Israeli-controlled areas. More than 30 US states have passed so-called anti-BDS laws that penalise companies or entities seen to be boycotting Israel or Israeli-controlled territories. These laws often apply regardless of whether the boycott targets Israel itself or the settlements specifically – something Martin said poses a risk of misinterpretation. 'Whilst we're just involved in the Occupied Territories, not Israel as a country, there's a concerted campaign in terms of misrepresenting the Irish position, so that's an issue we have to factor in,' Martin said. Advertisement Martin also addressed criticism that the government is backing away from the moral argument in favour of protecting economic interests. 'It's not commercial, like it's putting bread and butter on people's table,' he said, noting the presence of 'hundreds of thousands' of jobs in Ireland linked to multinational employers. 'The object of the exercise here is to put pressure on Israel, not to disadvantage Ireland unduly and that's a factor.' The Taoiseach acknowledged the symbolic importance of the legislation, but said it was important to be 'clear-eyed' about its potential impact. 'There's no point in Ireland coming out worse if it has no impact on Israel. That's the only point I'm making, we have to be clear-eyed in terms of the impact. People should know about the impact.' He also raised practical concerns about how a ban on services would even be enforced. 'How do you actually detect, how do you punish the offence, the practicalities around all of that. Those are real and the bill is fundamentally symbolic, it's important.' The Occupied Territories Bill, first introduced in 2018, proposed banning the import and sale of goods and services originating in illegal settlements, as well as the extraction of resources from those areas. The revised version of the bill, now known as the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill, would criminalise only the importation of goods, under the Customs Act 2015. Services are not currently covered, though Tánaiste Simon Harris has said he is seeking further legal advice and wants to bring services into scope where possible. 'There isn't another country in the European Union that you can visit today and ask a government minister about their bill to ban trade and the detail of it, because they don't have one,' Harris said last Wednesday. 'Ireland is leading – but we have to do this properly.' The bill is expected to go before an Oireachtas committee for pre-legislative scrutiny later this year. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
2 hours ago
- RTÉ News
'No hope' of alternative accommodation for those moving from IPAS centres
Two agencies providing services to asylum applicants who have been granted permission to remain in Ireland have called on the Minister for Housing and Minister for Justice to work together to prevent thousands more people ending up in homeless services in the coming weeks and months. It comes following confirmation from the Department of Justice that from tomorrow 2,042 people, including 600 families, will be moved from IPAS, on a phased basis over the coming months. Charities Crosscare and Depaul work with those seeking international protection in Ireland and those who have legal status. In a statement this evening, they stated that the risk of homelessness was a direct result of the Department of Justice moving people out of IPAS accommodation having been permitted to remain in Ireland, "even though they have little or no hope of finding alternative accommodation". The chief executives of both organisations wrote to the ministers two months ago "pleading with them to work together to avoid escalating the homeless crisis". Crosscare CEO Conor Hickey and Depaul CEO David Carroll warned both ministers that another 6,000 people with permission to live and work here could end up in homeless services. In the past 18 months, over 7,000 people with status have left IPAS accommodation. According to the latest homeless figures, a total of 15,747 people were in emergency accommodation last month, of whom 3,031 were from outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Between May 2023 and May 2025, there was an increase of approximately 1,230 in the number of Non‑EEA adults in emergency accommodation. Crosscare and DePaul have said the matter can no longer be ignored. They are concerned about families being removed from their communities. "An offer that uproots vulnerable people and separates them and their children from their supports is not a real offer. It is simply unfair and unjust and must not be allowed," they said. The joint statement called on the country's local authorities to "work together with IPAS to respond in a humane and planned manner for this group of people, many of whom are very vulnerable". Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless households rests with individual local authorities. However, Crosscare and Depaul have said frontline staff in both charities are finding that local authorities across the country are "not always accepting responsibility" for households who have become homeless after leaving IPAS. "They can find themselves being moved between different authorities, and staff see them disproportionately present to Dublin homeless services. "Some local authorities are failing to provide timely access to emergency accommodation; families at times have reported that they are not always being dealt with immediately and are told to return to IPAS for assistance." The Department of Housing has acknowledged that the growth in the number of households being granted international protection or other forms of permission to remain in the State has resulted in local authorities seeing increasing presentations from households who have recently left direct provision accommodation. Crosscare and Depaul have called a coordinated plan as a matter of "urgency", to support those with status who have been asked to move out of direct provision/IPAS and to postpone notices to those who have received letters that they must move on from their present accommodation.
The Journal
4 hours ago
- The Journal
Chicken fillet rolls and Cork City: Taoiseach tries to pull the strings for more trade with Japan
Christina Finn reports from Osaka MICHEÁL MARTIN SAYS he needs to have words with European Commissioner and Fianna Fáil colleague Michael McGrath. Not to discuss anything serious to do with European affairs, but to ask why Cork City is not listed as a city at the photo station at the EU Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka. The Taoiseach was attending the global exhibition of cutting-edge technology and industry, taking a tour of the Ireland Pavilion and pavilions operated by the EU and UN. Sitting down in front of the camera, he was asked to choose where in Ireland he would like his photo superimposed into. He chose the option of 'cities'. 'You better have Cork,' he joked to one of the pavilion ambassadors. Christina Finn / TheJournal Christina Finn / TheJournal / TheJournal She laughed, not knowing how seriously this country leader takes his homestead. Only Dublin, she told him. 'Ah for God's sake, is that all you have, come on. I'll choose Dublin then. But I must tell Commissioner McGrath,' he said, smiling as he had his photograph taken. Sweltering heat in Osaka Expo 2025, which is expected to attract 28 million visitors over six months, was jam-packed with visitors today, despite the 33 degree sweltering heat. Christina Finn Christina Finn Ireland is one of 150 countries participating in the Expo, with the Taoiseach's visit today forming a key marking on his trip to Japan this week which the main focus has been on promoting trade links between the two countries. Advertisement The Journal / YouTube Over €16 million spent Irish participation in Expo has cost more than €16 million over the past three years, with the pavilion itself accounting for nearly €7 million. The Taoiseach defended the spend today, telling reporters that trade between Japan and Ireland is €21 billion and it is growing every year. Ireland is selling more to Japan than the Japanese is to Ireland, he said, stating 'you have to look at in that context'. Taoiseach at the Ireland Pavilion at Expo 2025. Christina Finn / TheJournal Christina Finn / TheJournal / TheJournal Any links between the two countries were being gleaned on today. One Japanese staff member working at the Irish Pavilion is a 'culinary expert', the Taoiseach was told while getting his tour. The staff member laughed as he told the Taoiseach how he'd spent time in Ireland as a student and had worked in Centra making the Irish food staple 'the chicken fillet roll'. Now it's probably a fair assessment to state that it is highly unlikely the Taoiseach has had ever had a chicken fillet roll, given his notorious health diet, but he laughed along nonetheless. Irish whiskey Showcasing what Ireland has to offer, such as Irish whiskey, was also on the agenda today, with the Taoiseach taking a meeting with Clonakilty Whiskey. Martin sipped on a 'White Lady' gin cocktail that had been made up for him, regaling how there was once a nightclub after the same name in Kinsale that he used to frequent. Japan is the second largest market in Asia for Irish whiskey and the opportunities are growing. In 2020, 55,000 cases of Irish whiskey were sold to Japan, with 206,000 cases sold last year. Related Reads This Irish embassy in Japan is the state's most expensive building constructed outside Ireland Over Guinness and Enya music, Martin talks trade, undersea cables and 'Bakebake' with Japanese PM The Journal / YouTube There was also traditional Irish music played today, not only by professionals, but by the Taoiseach today who took to the harp to play what he said was an 'experimental piece'. The day was rounded out with a showing of a new 'asadora' known as a morning drama TV series, which the Japanese people watch first thing in the morning. A staple of Japan's domestic entertainment industry, they are only around 15 minutes long. A screening of the new series was shown at the Ireland Pavilion today. Christina Finn / TheJournal Christina Finn / TheJournal / TheJournal The story of Lafcadio Hearn, who came from Ireland to Japan as a journalist in 1890 and married Koizumi Setsu, is being made into a new dramatisation. 'As you may know, the National Broadcaster NHK are retelling the story of Setsu and Hearn in their popular morning drama series, 'Baké, Baké, 'The Ghost Writer's wife' later this year,' he said. The Taoiseach said he hoped the mini-series could be shown in Ireland to foster the links between the two countries. Rounding out his speech, Martin said Expo proves that by working together great things can be achieved when there is unity of purpose. 'It shows us that time differences, cultural differences, and language barriers can be overcome to create something great. What has been achieved here is truly a beacon of light in these turbulent times,' he said, before raising his glass and toasting: 'To Ireland and Japan, to Unity in diversity. Sláinte, Kampai.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
