Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 November 2019
31. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the commitment to admit 4,000 persons under the relocation and resettlement programmes will be met; the number of persons admitted to date; the number being accommodated in emergency accommodation and in emergency reception and orientation centres by length of stay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47761/19]
View answerThe Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) was established by Government Decision of September 2015 as a key part of Ireland’s response to the global humanitarian migration crisis. It committed Ireland to accept 4,000 persons under various strands, including the EU Relocation Mechanism and UNHCR Resettlement Programme.
As of 19 November 2019, progress across the various strands of the IRPP was as follows:
- Under the EU Relocation strand, 1,022 people were relocated to Ireland
- Under UNHCR-led Refugee Resettlement strand, a commitment was made to resettle 1,985 people, of which 1,625 resettlements have been completed
- Under the IRPP Humanitarian Admission Programme 2018/19 (IHAP), a commitment was made to admit 740 family members of refugees, of which 159 people have arrived in Ireland; and;
- Under other mechanisms (including Search and Rescue Missions, Unaccompanied Minors from Greece, Calais Special Project), a commitment was made to admit 253 people, of which 102 have arrived.
The EU Relocation strand is now complete. On the 19 November 2019, there were a further 178 arrivals under the UNHCR-led Refugee Resettlement Strand which is due to be complete by end 2019. There will be some delay in the completion of the IHAP strand, however, as those granted permission to travel to Ireland make their own arrangements for travel, the exact timing of which is not known to this Department.
Refugee and asylum seekers arriving in Ireland under the resettlement and relocation strands of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) are initially accommodated in Emergency Reception and Accommodation Centres (EROCs).
Two EROCs are currently in operation:
- The Abbeyfield Hotel, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon
- The Clonea Strand Hotel, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
In addition, there are dedicated EROC places within the Mosney Accommodation Centre, due to its particular suitability for families. The table below sets out the current numbers and the average length of stay for each of the centres as of 14 November 2019:
|
EROC |
Current Occupancy |
Avg. Length of Stay |
|
Abbeyfield Hotel EROC Ballaghadereen, Co. Roscommon |
185 |
134 days |
|
Clonea Strand Hotel EROC Dungarvan, Co. Waterford |
95 |
185 days |
|
Mosney EROC Julianstown, Co. Meath |
50 |
332 days |
|
TOTAL |
330 |
185 days |
Of the 2,647 people who have arrived to date under the resettlement and relocation strands of the IRPP, more than 80% have been resettled in communities across Ireland.
