The yearly amount that Ireland spends on international protection accommodation has crossed the €1 billion threshold for the first time.

These are figures that Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín obtained from Minister Norma Foley.

On The Anton Savage Show, Deputy Tóibín said this cost is a function of the number of people that are seeking accommodation and a function of an increase in the cost of that accommodation.

“We have seen a significant increase in the number of people seeking accommodation in the country,” he said.

“In 2021 the number of people in the IPAS system was 7,000, today it's 32,000 - so we have seen a big jump in the number of applicants within the process.”

Deputy Tóibín said Ireland has seen a big increase in the “actual costs per night per individual” as well as the increase of accommodation seekers.

“So in total, the increase of the cost to the State has been 54% in one year, which is eye watering,” he said.

“It means if we continue on this trend, we're talking about a significant budget in terms of this.

“But the actual per night rate has actually increased 47% just in two years, which is an enormous rate of inflation, even when you compare the fact that accommodation and the cost of living has increased in those two years.

“So you know, in both those aspects, the Government is paying significantly more than it was a couple of years ago.”

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín

Deputy Tóibín also pointed out that there is “a small number of accommodation providers in the country becoming very wealthy in terms of this particular process”.

He said he has “no great confidence” of seeing a change in the way Government deals with these issues any time soon.

“The Government has promised that they will look to change the system to a state provision system, but unfortunately, most of the Government's plans have a glacial speed in this country,” Deputy Tóibín said.

"Fail the system"

Deputy Tóibín said another issue within the Government’s strategy for dealing with asylum seekers is the cost associated with Ireland’s slow processing system.

“The other aspect to this, I think, is there is a big cost tied up with the fact that we're very slow in processing applicants,” he said.

“So still, on average, [it is] about two years for applicants to go through the first application and the appeal if they fail - and many of those applicants will then go to court.

“In terms of appeal as well, we know that about a quarter of applicants will ultimately fail in their application, so it's fair enough to deduce there that we're actually providing accommodation for well over two years for thousands of people who are actually going to fail the system.”

Tents occupied by migrants lined the Grand Canal close to the International Protection Office (IPO) on Lower Mount Street. 20/05/24 Pic Stephen Collins/Collins Photos

Deputy Tóibín thinks Ireland has “sent out a message internationally” that Ireland has been “lackadaisical in terms of processing applicants”.

“I think if we have a much stricter, more efficient system whereby we do provide support to those who actually need it but we make sure that we're strict in terms of [those who] don't need it - I think that would send out a message internationally, which could lower figures as well,” he said.

Deputy Tóibín said that for other countries a stricter approach is working.

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Split image: Peadar Tóibín and Office of International Protection, Ireland.