According to internal documents seen by The Irish Times, the Irish government has stopped opening asylum seeker centres in some areas of the country because of “violent protest and criminality”. Since late 2022, anti-immigration protests have been taking place all around Ireland, with people attacking asylum seeker centres and migrant accommodations. In many cases, the agitators destroyed property and caused arson, objecting to the housing of asylum seekers in the areas.

The documents analysed by The Irish Times show that the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS), an agency of the Department of Integration, stopped accepting properties from certain areas to open asylum seeker accommodation in 2024.

The documents stated: “Fairly uniquely in the Civil Service, the work of the division is subject to significant instances of protest, instances of arson and other violence or criminality, and targeting by anti-immigration or far-right activists.”

Between August 2023 and August 2024, the agency recorded 33 arson attacks against planned, actual or rumoured IPAS accommodation. As a result of the attacks, several properties were damaged beyond use, which led to a “marked drop” in the number of private properties offered for housing asylum seekers.

According to the documents, resistance to new asylum seeker centres comes in the form of “legal, local and criminal challenges” and is driven by “diverse factors, ranging from far-right, anti-immigration criminality, to sincerely held concerns about local public service capacity”.

In addition to the anti-immigration protests, the agency faced other challenges in securing new accommodations, including court cases in places such as Thornton Hall, Crooksling, Athlone and more.

A spokesperson for the Department of Integration said that the State has “worked under significant pressure over the last few years to find accommodation” for asylum seekers. When considering property offers for the centres, the International Protection Accommodation Service carries out an “appraisal”.

“A range of issues are considered by that appraisal which may lead to a refusal,” the spokesperson added. “These might include ineligibility for planning exemptions or other building and fire regulations managed by the Local Authority. They might also include concerns about services, transport and other logistical issues.”