Fresh scrutiny has been cast on the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) after media investigations and a Dáil debate highlighted spiralling costs and alleged profiteering by private contractors. According to figures cited in the Irish Sun on 1 February 2026, the State paid €950 million to accommodation providers in 2025 and is on course to break the €1 billion mark this year. Rates per bed have climbed 68 per cent since 2022.
The Comptroller & Auditor General (C&AG) has flagged major failings in due diligence and contract transparency: some providers that did not meet fire-safety or planning rules—and even a handful with links to organised crime—secured lucrative State deals. Opposition party Sinn Féin accuses the Government of “outsourcing immigration policy to profiteers” and proposes capping nightly accommodation payments at €70 while accelerating asylum decisions to 90 days.
While VisaHQ does not arrange accommodation for international protection applicants, its Ireland desk closely tracks the IPAS reforms and broader immigration landscape. Through its self-service portal and seasoned consultants (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/), the firm helps employers, assignees and private travellers secure the correct visas, stay compliant with updated rules and anticipate knock-on effects the current debate may have on work permits and other mobility programs.
![Audit reveals profiteering and weak oversight in Ireland’s €950 million asylum-accommodation scheme]()
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan countered that reforms in the forthcoming International Protection Bill 2026 would tighten vetting, introduce performance-based contracts and give the State greater powers to terminate non-compliant agreements. He also defended Ireland’s decision to align with the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, arguing that common standards should improve oversight across member states.
For businesses, the controversy matters because it shapes public perception of migration. If voters view the asylum system as wasteful, political pressure could spill over into other mobility channels such as employment permits and intra-company transfers. Corporate immigration teams should monitor the debate and be prepared for possible fee increases or stricter compliance checks when contracting hotels or serviced apartments for relocating staff.
Pragmatically, mobility managers should also audit their own supplier chains—especially temporary accommodation vendors—to ensure they meet fire-safety and licensing rules. Failure to do so could expose employers to reputational damage if their assignees are housed in facilities caught up in future enforcement actions.
The Comptroller & Auditor General (C&AG) has flagged major failings in due diligence and contract transparency: some providers that did not meet fire-safety or planning rules—and even a handful with links to organised crime—secured lucrative State deals. Opposition party Sinn Féin accuses the Government of “outsourcing immigration policy to profiteers” and proposes capping nightly accommodation payments at €70 while accelerating asylum decisions to 90 days.
While VisaHQ does not arrange accommodation for international protection applicants, its Ireland desk closely tracks the IPAS reforms and broader immigration landscape. Through its self-service portal and seasoned consultants (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/), the firm helps employers, assignees and private travellers secure the correct visas, stay compliant with updated rules and anticipate knock-on effects the current debate may have on work permits and other mobility programs.
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan countered that reforms in the forthcoming International Protection Bill 2026 would tighten vetting, introduce performance-based contracts and give the State greater powers to terminate non-compliant agreements. He also defended Ireland’s decision to align with the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, arguing that common standards should improve oversight across member states.
For businesses, the controversy matters because it shapes public perception of migration. If voters view the asylum system as wasteful, political pressure could spill over into other mobility channels such as employment permits and intra-company transfers. Corporate immigration teams should monitor the debate and be prepared for possible fee increases or stricter compliance checks when contracting hotels or serviced apartments for relocating staff.
Pragmatically, mobility managers should also audit their own supplier chains—especially temporary accommodation vendors—to ensure they meet fire-safety and licensing rules. Failure to do so could expose employers to reputational damage if their assignees are housed in facilities caught up in future enforcement actions.
