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Refugee Resettlement Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 September 2020

Wednesday, 16 September 2020

Questions (117, 118)

Francis Noel Duffy

Question:

117. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Justice the number of UNHCR resettlement proposals that were received to date in 2020; the number of final decisions that have been made; the number of persons who have been granted permission to come here; the number of proposals yet to receive a decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24378/20]

View answer

Francis Noel Duffy

Question:

118. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Justice if refugees from other war-stricken countries such as Libya are being considered for UNHCR resettlement here, particularly those with relatives residing here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24379/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 118 together.

In 2015, as part of Ireland's response to the migration crisis in central and southern Europe, the Government established the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP). Under this programme, the Government committed to accepting up to 4,000 people into the State, primarily through a combination of the EU Relocation Programme and the UNHCR's Refugee Resettlement Programme.   

To date, more than 3,350 people have arrived in the State under the first phase of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP). 

Most of the remaining people will arrive under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme Humanitarian Admissions Programme (IHAP).  However, these people make their own travel arrangements, and so no exact timeframe can be given for when they might arrive in Ireland. My Department is committed to realising these commitments in line with our obligations under the programme. 

Under the UNHCR-led Resettlement Strand of the IRPP, a commitment was made to resettle 1,985 people, of which 1,913 Resettlements were completed by the end of last year.  A balance of 72 people remain to be resettled from Lebanon and Jordan to meet the full commitment.  Of this, 30 persons had been interviewed and selected during missions to Lebanon and Jordan in 2019.  They were unable to travel, initially due to documentation and health reasons, and subsequently the international travel restrictions in place due to COVID-19.  On the advice of the Defence Forces, it was not possible for staff from my Department to travel to Beirut to complete the selection of this cohort in late 2019. A successful mission in March of this year to Lebanon resulted in the selection of about 220 people who are currently awaiting travel to Ireland. 

Last December, a second phase of the programme was announced giving a commitment to welcome a further 2,900 refugees between this year and 2023 through a combination of resettlement and community sponsorship. In terms of resettlements, 650 refugees will be resettled this year, 700 next year, 750 in 2022 and 800 in 2023. The arrivals for the first two years will largely comprise of Syrian refugees resident in Jordan and Lebanon, along with a pilot group of Eritrean refugees resident in Ethiopia.  Any decision to amend the existing criteria or expand the current agreement is a matter for the Government and the UNHCR.

So far in 2020, no resettlements have taken place due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other international restrictions on travel.  It is hoped to resume operations before the end of the current year and the IRPP staff in my Department are currently engaging with international partners to share a collective experience of how best to resume arrivals and the lessons learned to date.  

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