The cost of accommodating asylum seekers increased by 87 per cent last year to €356m, new figures revealed by Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman show.
This is despite the amount it average yearly cost per resident falling by nearly €8,000 in the space of 12 months.
Minister O’Gorman confirmed the figures in response to a parliamentary question from Independent TD Carol Nolan.
He stated that the total spend on International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation in 2022 was €356.5m
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This was up from €190.9m in 2021, an increase of 87 per cent.
In 2016, expenditure on asylum-seeker accommodation was €64m.
This means spending on accommodation has increased by 456 per cent in the space of six years.
Minister O’Gorman confirmed that there were 19,202 people in IPAS accommodation on 31 December 2022.
“At a year-end average of overall cost divided by the number of people residing in IPAS accommodation, the average annual figure for keeping an international protection applicant in IPAS accommodation for one year was €18,568.59,” he said.
The average yearly cost per resident in 2021 was €26,346.77. This was the highest yearly average cost in the seven years of data provided.
At this point, there were just 7,244 asylum seekers in accommodation.
While the total number of asylum seekers being accommodated has increased, the average spend per resident dropped by €7,778 in the space of 12 months.
In 2016, when there were 4,425 asylum seekers in IPAS accommodation, the average cost per resident was €14,493.
“The number of people who are resident in IPAS accommodation will vary day to day throughout the year as the number of daily arrivals increase on a cumulative basis,” Minister O’Gorman said.
“2022 has seen a major increase in this respect, with 2023 seeing similar trends.
“Those seeking asylum in Ireland must make an application for international protection.
“While that claim is being examined by the International Protection Office, IPAS provides accommodation and related services to IPAs who wish to accept the offer of accommodation from the Irish State.
“Services for all International Protection applicants, including healthcare, are mainstreamed, and accessed through the same referral pathways as Irish citizens.”
Elsewhere, Minister O’Gorman also confirmed to Deputy Nolan that the total expenditure by the Department of the Ukraine crisis since the Russian invasion in February 2022 is €522m.
He said: “Of this, approx. €430m was on [Department]-provided accommodation alone.
“Further costs included the operation of the CityWest transport hub, Local Authority accommodation, pledged supports, transport, facilities management and staff costs.”
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