A second set of figures released on 1 February 2026—and highlighted by the Irish Sun—shows that State expenditure on international-protection accommodation jumped to €1.2 billion last year even though the volume of new asylum applications dropped from 18,500 in 2024 to 13,160 in 2025. Daily spending averaged €3.287 million across 312 IPAS centres housing 33,241 people.
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan insisted that providing food-and-shelter support is a legal obligation under EU and Irish law, but acknowledged that “the current model is unsustainable.” He pointed to planned investments in refurbished State-owned properties and modular villages to reduce reliance on high-cost hotels.
Migration advocates argue that the disconnect between falling claims and rising costs underscores how delays in processing, not volumes alone, drive expenditure. They want clearer timelines for the rollout of the single-procedure asylum system promised under the International Protection Bill 2026.
![Costs climb while claims fall: Spending row intensifies as new asylum figures released]()
Businesses and individuals who need clarity on Ireland’s evolving visa landscape can streamline the paperwork through VisaHQ’s digital platform. The service—available at https://www.visahq.com/ireland/—guides applicants step-by-step, tracks real-time status updates, and provides dedicated support teams, freeing HR departments to focus on strategic mobility planning rather than form-filling.
From a business-mobility perspective, the debate is a bellwether for broader sentiment around inward migration. Employers bringing in non-EU talent should anticipate tougher parliamentary scrutiny of any visa or permit schemes perceived as costly or poorly managed. Organisations may also face longer lead-times securing short-term hotel accommodation in provincial towns as the State competes for rooms.
Companies are advised to book serviced apartments early and budget for higher rates, particularly around tourist peaks and major sporting events when IPAS often block-books vacancies at short notice.
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan insisted that providing food-and-shelter support is a legal obligation under EU and Irish law, but acknowledged that “the current model is unsustainable.” He pointed to planned investments in refurbished State-owned properties and modular villages to reduce reliance on high-cost hotels.
Migration advocates argue that the disconnect between falling claims and rising costs underscores how delays in processing, not volumes alone, drive expenditure. They want clearer timelines for the rollout of the single-procedure asylum system promised under the International Protection Bill 2026.
Businesses and individuals who need clarity on Ireland’s evolving visa landscape can streamline the paperwork through VisaHQ’s digital platform. The service—available at https://www.visahq.com/ireland/—guides applicants step-by-step, tracks real-time status updates, and provides dedicated support teams, freeing HR departments to focus on strategic mobility planning rather than form-filling.
From a business-mobility perspective, the debate is a bellwether for broader sentiment around inward migration. Employers bringing in non-EU talent should anticipate tougher parliamentary scrutiny of any visa or permit schemes perceived as costly or poorly managed. Organisations may also face longer lead-times securing short-term hotel accommodation in provincial towns as the State competes for rooms.
Companies are advised to book serviced apartments early and budget for higher rates, particularly around tourist peaks and major sporting events when IPAS often block-books vacancies at short notice.
