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Syrian Conflict

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 April 2014

Wednesday, 30 April 2014

Questions (526)

Finian McGrath

Question:

526. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the Irish Government will accept 100 Syrian war refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19376/14]

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Written answers

I would point out that the Government has already committed to accept 90 persons displaced by the Syrian conflict under the UNHCR resettlement programme. In addition, in light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria, I announced last month an immigration based humanitarian admission programme for vulnerable persons affected by this conflict in the region.

Regarding the UNHCR resettlement programme, this will include four serious medical cases whose medical needs cannot be met except through resettlement. In addition, under the national asylum procedure, the vast majority of Syrians who have applied for asylum in Ireland since the outbreak of the conflict in Syria in 2011 and whose applications have since been determined, have been declared to be refugees. A total of 69 such applications have been received in the State in the 3 year period March 2011 to March 2014.

The Syrian Humanitarian Admission Programme (SHAP), which I introduced following an approach by members of the Syrian community in Ireland, will focus on offering temporary Irish residence to vulnerable persons present in Syria, or who have fled from Syria to surrounding countries since the outbreak of the conflict in March 2011, and who have close family members residing in the State.

The Programme allows naturalised Irish citizens of Syrian birth and Syrian nationals already lawfully resident in the State to make an application for vulnerable close family members to join them in Ireland on a temporary basis for up to two years. These are persons who are considered by their sponsoring family member present in Ireland to be most at risk. A sponsor may be a single person or the head of a family unit. Persons admitted under the Programme will be entitled to work, establish a business, or invest in the State.

A key condition of the Programme is that these persons should not become a burden on the State. If these family members cannot find employment the onus will be on the sponsors to support them during their time in Ireland.

The final date for submission of applications under the Programme is today, Wednesday 30 April 2014.

This Programme is an additional initiative in response to the crisis in Syria and is without prejudice to other avenues whereby Syrian nationals might lawfully enter the State, such as family reunification for the family members of of refugees and persons with subsidiary protection, and UNHCR's resettlement programme.

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