State left with stagging €2.2m bill covering taxis & buses for asylum seekers’ IPAS travel as Minister explains cost. While Irish Native People, Struggle to Live, this is a National Scandal.  

OVER €2.2million was spent on taxis and buses for international protection applicants last year, it’s emerged.

The 2025 travel costs were published by Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan.

Journeys included travel from points of entry into the State to designated IPAS facilities, from the International Protection Office in Dublin to accommodation centres, and transfers between IPAS sites.

They also included taxi trips to and from IPAS centres for specific urgent needs, such as medical appointments, where travel by public transport was not practicable.

The travel costs for 2025 were published by Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan, who said taxi journeys may be the most economical option where smaller groups of residents require transport, and may also be required at short notice or out of hours.

He explained: “Over 33,000 people are currently resident in 309 IPAS accommodation centres nationwide, and there are transport costs associated with the provision of state accommodation.

These costs arise within the IPAS accommodation system and involve groups of residents who may be arriving, leaving or moving to different centres each week for a range of reasons.

“Transport is required as part of some resident moves, and also can be provided for specific urgent needs, such as travel to urgent medical care appointments where public transport is not practicable.”

A total of €2,223,718 was spent on transport for international protection applicants last year, not including some transport costs arranged and covered under IPAS accommodation contracts.

The figures were provided by the minister in response to a parliamentary question from Independent Ireland TD Ken O’Flynn.