The state spent over €175 million on direct provision centres last year.
According to freedom of information documents, it’s an increase of nearly 36% on 2019.
5,275 asylum-seekers and refugees are living in direct provision centres at the moment.
A contract for a Direct Provision Centre in Letterkenny was signed last year with the first of the residents arriving at the centre in March this year.
There are a total of 46 different facilities throughout the country – with 673 people living in a centre in Mosney, Co Meath.
The next biggest is in Athlone, Co Westmeath, which has 246 residents.
The Department of Integration says the total cost of direct-provision accommodation last year over €175 million.
That compares to €129 million in 2019 and €78 million the previous year.
