Ipas Head Questions Homelessness Claims for 4,300 Ex-Residents in 2025
Ipas head John Harding disputes claims of widespread homelessness among former residents, stating reports are based on self-reporting. This follows warnings from officials like Mary Hayes, who reported 1,300+ ex-Ipas residents sought emergency accommodation in Dublin. Harding is seeking data from local authorities to validate these claims and identify trends among the 4,300 people who left Ipas in 2025.
John Harding, head of operations at International Protection Accommodation Services (Ipas), has questioned the accuracy of claims that large numbers of people leaving direct provision are becoming homeless. He stated that reports of former Ipas residents seeking emergency accommodation are «based on self-reporting» and contribute to «narratives» that hinder informed decision-making.
This follows warnings from Tánaiste Simon Harris and Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) director Mary Hayes. Hayes reported that over 1,300 people who left direct provision in the past two years sought emergency accommodation in Dublin. Between 2020 and 2025, 1,362 single adults and 127 families (1,758 people) entered Dublin homeless services from Ipas centers. Hayes noted that leaving direct provision was the largest driver of single-adult homelessness in 2024 and 2025, accounting for 25 percent of new single entrants.
In a January 21st, 2026, email to Rosemarie Tobin of the Department of Housing, Harding requested local authorities provide details of households in emergency accommodation in 2025 who previously resided in Ipas. He aims to validate this data against Ipas records to identify trends. Harding highlighted that of 4,300 people with a right to remain in Ireland who left Ipas in 2025, the «vast majority have successfully sourced accommodation without the use of ... homeless services».
Tobin responded that her staff are considering qualitative research on this issue. She also noted that Harding's suggestion for local authorities to verify claims with Ipas would require a data-sharing agreement. In a March 4th, 2026, email, Tobin detailed a new steering group, chaired by her unit, to address homelessness prevention for people exiting direct provision. This group will develop a data-sharing protocol between Ipas and local authorities and examine necessary legislation.