Wicklow IPAS centre inspections find overcrowding, mould and lack of cleanliness
The Wicklow PeopleThe Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has found that although IPAS centres in County Wicklow broadly meet the national standards, issues around overcrowding, mould, damp and food hygiene are still prevalent.
A series of inspections were carried out earlier this year at three locations in the county, at four separate premises based in Bray, Arklow and Dunlavin.
The Department's International Protection Procurement Service unit manages and oversees the procurement of accommodation centres from commercial providers for international protection applicants.
All IPAS centres are inspected at regular intervals to examine the quality of service being provided. This is done by a combination of departmental officials and an external service provider.
The centres are subject to unannounced inspections throughout the year which examine the quality of the accommodation services, considering food quality, fire safety, appropriate signage and information for residents.
The condition of communal areas and sleeping quarters is also reviewed alongside adherence to hygiene and other health and safety measures.
Bray Manor, a former nursing home on Meath Road in the town had a contracted capacity of 43 single males with 42 available for interview on the day of inspection which took place in March 2025.
The inspection found that the service was “a very well-run establishment throughout, with some slight overcrowding, however the centre is more than capable of holding additional capacity if needed”.
Separately residents at Tynte House in Dunlavin told inspectors their room hadn’t been inspected and highlighted an annex at the back of the property where they had been moved from their original room.
The room was occupied by four residents despite only being suitable for two and did not have the required planning permission to be used as accommodation.
The owner initially claimed this was being done while renovations were being carried out on their room and then said it had been done at the request of IPAS.
However, IPAS subsequently indicated they had no record of this.
Other issues highlighted by the residents at the former guest house/B&B included overcrowding in the rooms, lack of storage, and the small window of one hour for mealtimes.
Mould and damp were found in some of the rooms with most of them deemed to be overcrowded.
There was no fire safety records available during the inspection in April 2025 and concern was raised about the lack of security measures on site.
The inspection team could walk uncontested into the building.
One of the rooms also contained a child who was ill. The mother had raised this with the centre manager multiple times, but nothing had been done.
An appointment with the doctor was only made when the inspectors highlighted the issue.
Tynte House is one of two buildings in Dunlavin currently housing families of international protection applicants. The second is ‘Dunlavin Lodge’, a former commercial property that has been providing accommodation since April 2024.
The two storey building features eight rooms, including one ensuite room, and a total of five bedrooms.
This facility is only recently opened and quite small with capacity for 30 residents, but all rooms have storage with additional onsite space available if required.
Meanwhile a litany of issues were highlighted at a facility at Ferrybank in Arklow when an inspection took place at the site in February 2025.
The independent living facility comprises of six two-bedroom apartments.
Three residents are accommodated in each bedroom, giving a total capacity of 36, with 31 residents present on the day of inspection.
The centre is run by one full-time manager assisted by a part-time assistant.
A CCTV system is installed but there is no security personnel employed at the centre.
Inspectors found extensive mould in shower and basin trays throughout the apartments.
A plan has been put in place to refurbish all the bathroom facilities but there has been slow progress on its implementation.
The upper apartments are small in comparison to those on the ground floor, with concerns the tight space could lead to overcrowding.
Food hygiene was also found to be compromised by a lack of cleanliness. A cleaning company is employed on a weekly basis to clean the apartments, however it appears the company is not cleaning properly.
Ingrained grease and dirt were also found around cooking stations and on kitchen floors.