Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins TD has called for a windfall tax to be placed on IPAS providers.
Independent Ireland says this would “put 100s of millions of euros back in the taxpayers’ pocket.”
Speaking of the proposal, Collins said, “We need a windfall tax in relation to IPAS providers” which he said was “clear” are making “quite handsome sums of money in this country off the back of the Irish taxpayers”
He called on the government to “wind down IPAS centres”, adding, “we’re of the very strong belief that somebody that comes into the country” should be dealt with in three months.
Collins made reference to the recourse provided to such individuals, saying, “if they shouldn’t be here, they should immediately be dealt with.”
As Gript previously reported, the State spent a record €1.2 billion on accommodation for asylum seekers last year, the Committee of Public Accounts heard.
A further €150 million was spent on turning the former CityWest Hotel into a permanent State-run IPAS centre.
Department officials said that in total, €2.2 billion was spent by the State in 2024 accommodating both IPAS applicants and those who have come to Ireland from Ukraine.
The cost of running State accommodation for those seeking international protection is up by an estimated €160 million from the 2024 figure. The new figures mean that the nightly cost per IPAS applicant is €71, with this figure paid to commercial providers – the majority of whom are hotels – across the country.
TD’s previous criticism of IPAS operations
Last August Deputy Collins condemned what he described as a “blatant double standard” in Ireland’s medical card system, saying cancer sufferers are being forced to fight for support while people in the IPAS system can access medical cards as part of the supports available to them.
His comments came after figures showing that 140,070 people lost their medical cards during 2025, with more than 100,000 cards removed following issues including failure to respond to the HSE or insufficient documentation.
“What kind of country puts a cancer sufferer through a bureaucratic battle to get a medical card while people in the IPAS system can access one as part of the supports available to them?” he asked,
“An Irish person who has worked, paid taxes and contributed to this country all their life should not have to fight tooth and nail for healthcare when they become seriously ill.”
“To make matters worse, we are now seeing medical card application waiting times increase, in some cases almost doubling. Anecdotally, there also appears to have been an increase in refusals, resulting in more people having to go through the appeals process simply to access the healthcare support they need.”
“A cancer patient should be concentrating on their treatment and recovery – not filling out forms, waiting months for a decision or fighting an appeal,” he said. “This is a blatant double standard, and it is deeply hurtful to Irish people who are suffering,” the Independent Ireland leader said. “Let me be clear: this is not about denying healthcare to anybody. It is about fairness and priorities,” he continued.
“The Government must explain why an Irish person who has contributed to this State for decades can face barriers and lengthy delays when they become seriously ill, while international protection applicants have access to medical cards and healthcare supports while their applications are being processed. We need a system that puts seriously ill patients first.”
“I am calling for an urgent review of the medical card application process, particularly for cancer patients and people with serious illnesses,” he said.
“People battling cancer should not have to battle the State at the same time,” he added.
“The Government must put Irish patients first and end this unacceptable double standard.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Justice previously said that any person applying for international protection residing in IPAS accommodation is entitled to apply for a medical card, adding: “The IPAS resident welfare team includes professional social workers, who support people to access health and social care services as needed.”
The Irish Refugee Council says that “medical cards help eligible people access certain medical supports for free” and that “International protection applicants are generally entitled to medical cards.”