All direct provision centres will close in the next four years - abolishing a system set up in 1999.
In a white paper published today, the Department of Equality says the current system will come to an end in 2024.
From then, asylum-seekers will stay in a reception centre for a maximum of four months, before getting housed in the community.
Minister for Equality, Roderic O'Gorman, says direct-provision centres will shut on a phased basis between now and December 2024.
"We’ll be very much focused initially on closing emergency accommodation."
"Also providing accommodation for single people in the process because right now many single people are living in a dormitory style accommodation with two or three people living and sleeping together so we want to move away from that in the first place."
"So that will be the area we target to phase out first."
Ending Direct Provision Over Time Is 'Wise'
The Irish Refugee Council says the plan can be realised over the next four years.
But chief executive Nick Henderson says it will be difficult to find enough housing as a substitute for direct provision centres.
"No doubt that it's a challenge, no doubt that it all moves now to implementation."
"How do we actually build new types and provide for new types of accommodation in the midst of a pandemic with the housing crisis also existing."
"But I do believe it's possible."
"I think the commitment to end Direct Provision over a period of time is wise, it's not going to happen overnight."
