Westmeath County Council (WCC) Our Services

Accommodation and Support

Housing for International Protection Applicants & Refugees

The LAIT team does not have any role in providing accommodation to International Protection Applicants.

International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) provides accommodation and services for people applying for International Protection In Ireland.

Further information on International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) available here Information for residents

Information for Homeless International Protection Applicants The Irish Refugee Council website provides information on homeless day services across Dublin city centre who can help and provide support to homeless International Protection Applicants including the provision of free meals, showers, laundry facilities, sleeping bags, tents and change of clothing.

For further information: Information for Homeless International Protection Applicants

The Citizens Information Board is the statutory body which supports the provision of information, advice and advocacy on a broad range of public and social services.

For further information: Citizens information: Housing

Irish Refugee Council (IRC) housing team work with people who have been through the protection process in Ireland and have received their status to help them realise their housing rights. This is mainly through advice and advocacy on social housing applications and access to HAP.

Further Information: Irish Refugee Council Housing Service

Irish Refugee Council Homelessness Support: The Irish Refugee Council holds a weekly clinic to assist International Protection applicants experiencing homelessness.

Currently, this clinic takes place every Thursday in Dublin at 14:15. Please note that from Thursday, 13th February 2025, the clinic will operate at a new time: 10:15 AM – 12:00 PM.

This schedule change will be in effect for at least five weeks.

Further information available here: Irish Refugee Council homelessness information hub

Crosscare Housing & Welfare supports people who are homeless or struggling to find accommodation and who may have complex needs.They work with

People at risk of and experiencing homelessness and struggling to access state and other supports.
With a focus on social protection, housing, homelessness, and health, they provide information on rights and entitlements and offer advocacy where access to these rights is delayed or denied.
Provide a Roma, Romanian and Polish language clinics with interpreters.

Crosscare Housing & Welfare Information have a specific focus on migrant rights and entitlements, both EU and non-EU. They provide comprehensive training to organisations and represent migrant issues on various forums working to promote the advancement of migrants and their inclusion in Irish society.

Crosscare Housing & Welfare Information offer phone, video, email, and in- person meetings by appointment.

Contact: Email: housingandwelfare@crosscare.ie Phone: 01 8726775

Further information here: Crosscare Housing and Welfare supports

Housing for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection

A Designated Accommodation Centre is state provided accommodation designated by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth under law (section 60 (10) of the International Protection Act 2015, as amended by section 11 of the Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024). From 14 March 2024, Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection from Ukraine who live in a Designated Accommodation Centre do not qualify for certain social assistance payments.

While resident in Designated Accommodation Centres, they are entitled to the Beneficiary of Temporary Protection Weekly Payment, a payment of €38.80 per adult and €29.80 per child, subject to an income test. Further information is available at gov - Beneficiary of Temporary Protection Weekly Payment (www.gov.ie)

Food, laundry, other services and integration supports are also provided.

In addition, those arriving from 10 November 2025 who are looking for State-provided accommodation will be accommodated for a maximum of 30 days in Designated Accommodation Centres.

When they leave the Designated Accommodation Centre, or if they make their own accommodation arrangements on arrival, they will be entitled to apply for standard social welfare assistance, equivalent to Irish citizens, subject to meeting the eligibility conditions.

While in Designated Accommodation Centres, they are entitled to the Beneficiary of Temporary Protection Weekly Payment, subject to an income test.

This change does not affect those people who were granted temporary protection prior to 10 November who remain entitled to a maximum of 90 days’ accommodation.

Beneficiaries of temporary protection are not eligible to apply for social housing however they can source their own accommodation in the private rental market by visiting estate agents in the locality or searching online through the following websites.

Irish Red Cross register of pledges promote and manage goodwill from the Irish Public in the form of offers of accommodation for those who are fleeing conflict in Ukraine. They match properties and rooms offered through this Register of Pledges with refugees who they support through multiple programmes.

Further information here: Irish Red Cross Register of Pledges

Irish Red Cross also run a monthly webinar series designed to address the needs and concerns of guests. These focused webinars are run on the second Tuesday of every month. Sessions will provide useful information on living in Ireland, available supports, and relevant updates.

You can access previous webinars here: Irish Red Cross Monthly Webinar Series

They also offer support through their information page for Ukrainians in Ireland: Irish Red Cross Ukraine support & information page

LAIT