Report highlights concerns around overcrowding and pest infestations at IPAS centres
Kenneth Fox
A new report from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) highlights alarming conditions at International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres in 2024.
Overcrowding and inadequate living conditions were some of the main issues spotlighted in the report.
There were instances where families, including young children, were confined to cramped spaces, leading to situations where multiple individuals shared beds, posing significant health risks.
There were ongoing infestations, including cockroaches, that have been documented again posing significant health risks.
There was also a lack of safeguarding measures: underscoring severe lapses in child protection protocols.
The report found 35 per cent of staff across centres were found to be without appropriate Garda vetting, raising serious questions about the safety and security of residents.
Speaking about the report activist group, Dublin Communities Against Racism (DCAR) said private operators of IPAS centres receive millions in public funding while offering substandard living conditions.
Hotels and hostels charge excessive rates per night without accountability for safety or care standards. They said worryingly the HIQA report only refers to 14 per cent of IPAS accommodations.
DCAR spokesperson and community worker Diarmuid Mac Dubhghlais said: "We cannot accept lower standards in accommodation for refugees than is acceptable to the broader population. This will inevitably lead to lower standards all round."
Meanwhile, Sheila Lafferty, DCAR spokesperson and advocacy worker said: “Far right-orchestrated protests at potential IPAS accommodation sites have distracted the Irish public from discussing the lack of standards and transparency in IPAS and emergency accommodations”
The DCAR are calling for and end the commodification of crisis accommodation – Prioritize not-for-profit, state-led solutions instead of allowing private companies to profit from suffering.
Enforcing strict minimum standards – No public funds should go to providers who fail to meet proper living, health, and safety conditions.
Ensuring transparency and accountability – Publish detailed breakdowns of state spending on IPAS and emergency homeless accommodation, including who profits and what standards are enforced.
Finally, they said providing permanent housing solutions - address the root causes of homelessness instead of relying on costly, inadequate, and profit driven temporary measures.
