Government pledges to provide 14,000 state-owned beds for migrants

A pledge to create 14,000 State-owned beds by 2028 for migrants has been announced by the Irish government.

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman has announced a new comprehensive accommodation strategy for International Protection applicants.

This newly updated strategy seeks to address the current accommodation shortfall, while reforming the system in the long term to ensure that the State will be able to meet its international commitments.

The reforms will see a move away from full reliance on private providers and towards State-owned accommodation, delivering 14,000 State-owned beds by 2028. This is quadruple the previous commitment.

It is the intention of this new strategy to end the use of unsuitable accommodation options currently relied upon, such as the 'sole hotel remaining in a given town'. 

Accommodation in the new strategy will be delivered through:

• State land 
• Modular units
• Commercial buildings
• Targeted purchase of turn-key properties
• Design and build of new reception and integration Centres
• Upgrading of IPAS centres

A number of State-owned sites have been identified, with assessments underway for use.

Minister O'Gorman said: “The strategy will allow us to develop a system where the State holds the reigns on accommodation, its location, and its standards.

“By ending the reliance on private providers, and increasing the proportion of State-owned accommodation, we can bring certainty and stability into the system."

The Department intends to bring the first sites into use 'within months'.