Scrutiny of IPAS contracts urgently required – Matt Carthy TD
18 April 2025
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Matt Carthy TD, has said that there is an urgent need for scrutiny of the awarding of International Protection Accomodation Services (IPAS) contracts.
Deputy Carthy was responding to the publication of details regarding a company, that was established only 3 months ago, being awarded a multi-million deal to house asylum seekers in Tipperary. The Cavan-Monaghan TD said that profiteering in the provision of IPAS accommodation, which has made millionaires of some individuals, has to end.
Teachta Carthy said:
“For many years I have raised concerns about profiteering in the provision of accommodation for those seeking asylum. This problem has escalated over recent years due to the failure of the government to move to the provision of state-run accommodation, and the failure to adequately address lengthy processing times for international protection (IP) applications.
“Private landlords and property owners have made millions though the provision of, sometimes poor quality, accommodation for vulnerable people while there has been little or no engagements with local communities before IPAS centres are opened.
“It is now five years since the Expert Advisory Group on the provision of accommodation for people in the international protection process recommended ‘a permanent shift to a new system where the state takes responsibility for accommodating asylum seekers by providing state-owned and operated accommodation for them.’ Little or nothing has happened since.
“In the meantime, the state has paid out billions with very little transparency. There are growing reports of companies with no track record being awarded contracts – as reported recently the company awarded the contract to provide 277 beds for IPAS applicants at Dundrum in Tipperary.
“In that case it is reported that Utmasa Limited, a company set up three months ago with one director based in Mallorca, is set to secure a contract worth millions.
“It is time for proper scrutiny of how public money is being used and how private interests are being awarded multi-million euro contracts from the flawed IPAS accommodation system.
“I hope that the Oireachtas Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Committee will examine this matter when it is finally established in the coming weeks.”
