Exiting the International Protection Accommodation Service system: Experiences of housing precarity among international protection beneficiaries in Ireland

Amid a rise in international protection applications in Ireland, and a resultant strain on the International Protection Accommodation Service, or direct provision system, pressure has mounted on those granted protection (i.e. international protection beneficiaries) to move on. This has resulted in some exiting the accommodation system through insecure and informal housing arrangements and has even resulted in some ultimately becoming homeless. This research explores this phenomenon. Through semi-structured interviews with local government personnel (staff and councillors), nongovernmental personnel, and international protection beneficiaries affected, the nature of Ireland’s current administrative system is reflected upon, bearing in mind a context analysis that includes consideration of migration in Ireland broadly, the housing crisis, and Ireland local government system. Recommendations are finally provided stemming from the primary research.