IPAS Accommodation
Once the preliminary interview is complete and the forms have been filled in, you will be offered accommodation by the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS), where it is available. There may also be a vulnerability assessment at this stage.
Currently, accommodation is not immediately available for single, male international protection applicants, with many currently sleeping in tents.
You may initially be accommodated in a centre in Dublin and then transferred to a centre in another part of Ireland. The size of the centre varies considerably. Some applicants are currently being accommodated in tents in different sites across Ireland.
An applicant can also chose to reside in their own private accommodation.
Homeless applicants
If you are refused accommodation from IPAS, you are put on a waiting list. IPAS will contact you by email when accommodation becomes available, please keep an eye on your emails (including the spam folder). It is not clear how long it takes to secure accommodation for people who are on the waiting list. Applicants will receive a voucher for Dunnes Stores.
You can collect your PPS number 4 working days after you have applied for asylum. Once you have this number, you can apply for the weekly payment of 113 euro, as well as an additional needs payment of 100 euro. The PPS number and the payments can be collected at this address:
Elizabeth O’Farrell House,
19-28 Cumberland St N
Dublin 1
D01 NX32
The Irish Refugee Council has information about support services on their website: www.irishrefugeecouncil.ie/info-for-homeless-international-protection-applicants.
Access to work
An international protection applicant can apply for a ‘Labour Market Access Permission’ five months after they have filed an application for international protection (with validity after 6 months) so long as no decision has been made on their international protection application and the IPO considers that the person has sufficiently identified themselves. The five month is counted from the date under “Application Received” on the TRC (blue card).
An applicant must be considered to be cooperating with the international protection procedure. An application for a labour market access permission may be refused where it is considered an applicant intentionally caused a delay in the processing of their application.
Applications can be made online at the following website: www.irishimmigration.ie/my-situation-has-changed-since-i-arrived-in-ireland/labour-market-access-permission/.
You must complete the form and attach copies of a valid TRC and the identity documents that were provided to the IPO to establish your identity or a description of the efforts you have made to obtain identity documents.
You do not need to already have a job when you apply.
The processing time as of November 2024 is 120 days (check the Irish Immigration website for updates). You cannot start work without the labour market access permission.
The labour market access permission is valid for one year and can be renewed so long as a final decision has not been taken on your application for international protection. The renewal application must be submitted two months before the current permission expires and a new labour market access permission will be sent to you.
You can work in most sectors, with the exception of public service jobs. The labour market access permission looks different from an employment permit or a GNIB card, your employer only needs to see the labour market access permission and they should check their requirements on the Irish Immigration website.
Social welfare
Applicants living in IPAS accommodation can claim a Daily Expenses Allowance (DEA):
• Adults are entitled €38.80 per week.
• Children are entitled to €28.80 per week.
An applicant may also apply for an Additional Needs Payment (ANP), if there is something that they need that is essential and which they cannot afford.
Other payments may include a payment for clothing of 100 euros twice per year.
If you are living in your own accommodation, you cannot receive the Daily Expenses Allowance.
Medical cards
Most international protection applicants can access a medical card. This means that you will be able to access some medical care/supports free of charge.
You can submit an application for a medical card. Before you do so, you should register with a GP and they can tell you more information about the application process. If you cannot register with the GP (many of them have long waiting lists), you will need to prove that you tried with three different GP practices.
Further information on the medical card and the application process is available here.
English classes and other education courses
International protection applicants can access education, but they may have to pay a fee in some cases.
English classes
These are available at local Education and Training Boards (ETBs) free of charge. The availability and level of the classes depends on the local ETB. Further information can be found here.
Other training and courses
An applicant can consult an Adult Education Guidance Counsellor in their local area (map available here), who will give them advice on what courses to pursue depending on their career/job hopes.
If an applicant is in Ireland for less than six months, they can access courses that are listed as Level 1-3 on the NFQ.
Universities
For university, international protection applicants might be eligible to apply and get a fee waiver through the International Protection Student Scheme that is run by the Immigration Services. You need to have been in Ireland for at least three years and not have received a status. Further information is available here.
If an applicant has been in Ireland for less than 3 years, they can apply for a Sanctuary Scholarship, but there are limited places available.