Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published its 2025 overview report on the monitoring and inspection of International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres.

There are currently 30 accommodation centres under HIQA’s remit, approximately 10% of all accommodation settings for people seeking asylum in Ireland. The report found improvements in the services that HIQA monitors since 2024, demonstrating the benefits and impact of independent monitoring and inspection. In 2025, many service providers made changes and progress in critical areas that positively impacted on residents’ quality of life and living conditions: 

• 91% of staff were vetted by An Garda Síochána; a 26% increase since 2024.
• 93% of centres had safeguarding policies in place; a 16% increase since 2024.
• 90% of centres had risk management policies in place; a 47% increase on 2024.
• Overall standards of accommodation had improved, along with governance and oversight. 

Significant challenges continued across the wider sector, including a systematic inability to meet demand for those arriving in Ireland and those seeking to move out of IPAS centres. This resulted in 44% of centres being overcrowded – a 19% increase on what was seen in 2024, with 96 adults living in tented accommodation in one centre, which impacted on their quality of life. In addition, 29% of accommodation centres inspected by HIQA had significant health and safety concerns, including fire safety, structural issues, mould and pests. 

Commenting on the findings, HIQA’s Head of Programme with responsibility for monitoring and inspection of IPAS Centres, Bronagh Gibson said:

“During 2025, we saw a range of improvements in the provision of international protection accommodation services – some incremental, others significant. It is imperative that this progress continues. Our report highlights critical areas where HIQA believes actions are needed to bring about change for the benefit of people using the system. The current strain on the system to meet demand has resulted in many residents experiencing overcrowding which has had a toll on their wellbeing and safety. Urgent efforts are needed to ensure the system has the capacity to meet demand. While there is a national strategy to provide sufficient accommodation in the longer term, interim measures must be timely, effective and responsive to risks such as deteriorating buildings.”

“Despite these ongoing challenges, our report found that many residents had positive experiences of living in accommodation centres. Almost 90% of adults said they were happy living in their centres, and importantly 97% of children and young people told us that they felt safe living there. Their voices provide valuable insights and help us to identify what works well and what could be improved. We would like to thank those residents who shared their experiences with us and welcomed our inspectors into their homes, and the providers, staff and managers who engaged with us.”

Read the report and our summary infographic here.

ENDS

Further information:

Zoe Forde, Communications Manager, zforde@hiqa.ie, 085 802 1469

Notes for Editor: 

• International Protection Accommodation Service centres, formerly known as direct provision centres, provide accommodation for people seeking international protection in Ireland.
• In 2024 HIQA assumed responsibility for monitoring the quality of permanent International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres which, at that time, were provided by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. In May 2025, responsibility for the provision of international protection of accommodation services transferred to the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
• By 31 December 2025, there were 32,921 people living in 313 accommodation settings across Ireland. 30 of those accommodation centres fell under HIQA’s remit.
• HIQA conducted 37 inspections during 2025.
• During 2025, HIQA met with 725 residents directly and received 289 completed questionnaires that had been distributed to residents of accommodation centres. 

About HIQA

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is the independent body that promotes safety and quality in the provision of health and social care services in Ireland. 
Through its regulation, standard setting and evidence to inform decision-making functions, HIQA supports health and social care services to consistently deliver excellent standards of care and the best possible health and social care outcomes for all.