ASYLUM CENTRES COST TO HIT €5BN
But plan for State properties will save taxpayer billions
IT could cost the Government over €5billion to establish Stateowned accommodation centres for asylum seekers.
Cabinet signed off on plans last week from Integration Minister Roderic O’gorman to move away from the reliance on private accommodation to State-owned centres.
It is envisaged that 14,000 beds in between 20 and 30 centres will be opened before 2028.
The Irish Times reported yesterday Ministers were told that supplying 10,000 beds for asylum seekers over 20 years could cost up to €5billion.
However, it also reported that this could save the Government “billions” as they will no longer be relying on private accommodation such as the D Hotel in Drogheda, Co Louth.
The Irish Mirror reported last week that the cost of accommodation for the International Protection Accommodation Service in 2023 was over €640m. This was up from €356.6m in 2022. A White Paper on ending Direct Provision, published by the Government in 2021, stated that it could cost between €446m and €672m. However, this suggested just six reception and integration centres would be required.
This white paper contained detailed information on costings and how much it would cost to abolish direct provision and the cost of building a new reception.
There were no costs provided in the new document launched last week.
Last week as he unveiled the plans, Minister O’gorman refused to answer several questions about how much his
new plan to build 14,000 beds over the next five years. He told the Mirror: “The reality is that as I give a figure… We’ll be going out to the market to build and also to buy.
“As soon as I give a figure, the price is going to rise to match that. It’s really important for us to be able to secure value for money for the state in terms of the process we’re taking.”
He later argued that other projects have shown that as soon as prices are mentioned, when tenders are issued the prices often rise to match the tender amount.