Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
1191. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a progress report will be provided on the Irish Refugee Resettlement Programme commitments namely, resettling 2,900 refugees between 2020 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39173/21]
View answer1192. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of refugees that were successfully resettled according to the 2020 target of 650 and the 2021 target of 700. [39174/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1191 and 1192 together.
I wish to confirm to the Deputy that, in 2020 and to date in 2021, a total of 259 programme refugees have been resettled to Ireland.
Due to Covid-19, the number of refugees resettled globally in 2020 was the lowest in two decades. An Irish selection mission in Lebanon in March was interrupted due to the pandemic, and there were no further missions last year. Consequently, there was a shortfall in the number of refugees interviewed, security screened and resettled last year.
I'm pleased to report that the first 2021 Irish selection and security screening mission for refugees took place in Athens last month. My officials in the Irish Refugee Protection Programme are currently planning a mission in Lebanon and Jordan later this year, subject to health and security considerations. It is intended to interview over 300 persons on each of those missions.
At this point, my Department continues to seek to fulfil the Government pledge to resettle 2,900 refugees between 2020 and 2023.
