REVEALED: Incidents, complaints and inspections at Kilkenny IPAS centre
Data has been released to Kilkenny Live by the Department of Justice via the Freedom of Information Act
A total of 286 incidents were recorded at the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centre at Kilkenny Inn IPAS centre between the beginning of 2023 and July 2026, according to figures released by the Department of Justice under the Freedom of Information Act. The Department also recorded 14 complaints over the same period.
The figures show 106 incidents in 2023, 64 in 2024, 27 in 2025, and 89 in 2026 up to the date of the FOI decision. Complaints totalled one in 2023, eight in 2024, three in 2025, and two in 2026.
However, the Department did not provide any breakdown of what constituted an incident or complaint, nor did it identify who made the complaints. As a result, it must be noted that the figures alone do not indicate the nature or seriousness of the recorded incidents or complaints.
This is despite specifically requesting “records showing the number of incidents recorded at the centre in each year from 2023 to date, broken down by incident category where such records are maintained.”
The Department noted that multiple inspection reports relating to the centre had already been made publicly available.
An inspection carried out in April 2024 found the centre operating below its contracted capacity, accommodating 119 single male residents against a capacity of 138.
Inspectors recorded that 24-hour supervision was in place, CCTV was operational, and security was provided by in-house staff.
The report found residents were provided with house rules on arrival, had access to complaint forms, and could raise food-related issues through a suggestion box.
Toiletries were supplied free of charge and replenished weekly, while maintenance issues were recorded on a management spreadsheet and checked weekly.
Inspectors also found residents had unrestricted access to laundry facilities, with towels and bed linen replaced weekly and cleaning materials made available as required.
Bedrooms were inspected weekly and monthly, with residents responsible for cleaning their own rooms, although assistance was provided where necessary.
The inspection found food safety procedures were in place, with HACCP systems implemented, environmental health inspections completed, and kitchen temperature records maintained.
Tea, coffee, and drinking water were available around the clock, while meals were provided for late arrivals and special arrangements were in place during Ramadan.
Residents also had access to Wi-Fi throughout the centre, private meeting rooms, and a non-denominational prayer room.
Fire safety records examined during the inspection found no issues with emergency lighting, alarms, firefighting equipment, or escape routes.
A fire drill carried out in March 2024 recorded that six residents did not leave the building, with the report noting warning letters had been issued following what it described as a first instance of non-compliance.
The FOI request had also sought risk assessments, safeguarding assessments, operational reviews, management updates, and records of recommendations arising from the operation of the centre.
However, the Department said no such records could be found following searches of its document management systems and officials' email accounts, refusing that part of the request under Section 15(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act.