Sinn Féin TD finds only two IPAS inspections in Louth
By ArdeePost Reporter
Sinn Féin TD Joanne Byrne has expressed serious concern after discovering that only two inspections have been carried out this year on International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) centres in County Louth.
The revelation comes just days after a Halloween night fire at an IPAS-run building on Georges Street, Drogheda, where five people — including four children — had to be rescued from the top floor.
Deputy Byrne said she had been trying to determine why the building had no fire escape and was shocked to find that so few inspections were documented across the county in 2025.
“It’s completely unacceptable that vulnerable families, including young children, are being housed in buildings that appear to have gone without any meaningful safety checks,” Deputy Byrne told the Ardee Post.
“We need to know how this happened, why the oversight system failed, and what’s being done to make sure it never happens again.”
IPAS Centre Fire raises major safety concerns
The Halloween blaze on Georges Street has left local residents shaken. Emergency services were called after flames were seen coming from the upper floors of the building.
Firefighters rescued a mother and four children who had become trapped upstairs.
Gardaí have since confirmed they are treating the incident as an arson attack, and an investigation remains ongoing. The Department of Integration has terminated the contract for the Drogheda property pending the outcome of safety reviews.
Local community groups and public representatives have described the situation as “frightening” and “deeply worrying” for those living in IPAS accommodation across the region.
Lack of oversight
According to information available on the Department’s website, only two inspection reports have been published this year for all IPAS centres in County Louth. Deputy Byrne said that falls far short of what is needed to ensure safety and accountability.
She is now calling for:
- A full review of all IPAS accommodation contracts in Louth.
- Immediate publication of up-to-date inspection reports.
- An independent safety audit of every building housing asylum seekers and refugee families.
“These are people seeking safety and stability,” Byrne added. “They should never be placed in danger because of poor oversight or lack of inspections.”
Next steps
The Department has said that inspections are ongoing and that additional safety checks will be carried out following the Drogheda fire. However, Byrne maintains that the public must be shown transparency and urgency, not promises of future reviews.
Local residents in Drogheda and Ardee have echoed that view, saying they want stronger safeguards and proper fire safety standards at every centre in the county.
“We’re lucky no lives were lost,” said one local resident. “If there’s only been two inspections this year, that’s a scandal. People deserve better.”
IPAS Background
The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is responsible for housing asylum seekers and refugees across Ireland. Centres are supposed to undergo regular inspections to ensure they meet safety and welfare standards.
However, recent reports suggest inspection frequency and publication have fallen behind in several counties, raising questions about accountability, safety, and transparency in the system.
