Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 September 2021
285. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to expand the Irish Refugee Protection Programme in order to accept an increased number of refugees from Afghanistan; the engagement he has had with the Minister for Foreign Affairs in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47276/21]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that, in response to the current crisis in Afghanistan, approximately 400 places have been made available by my Department for humanitarian cases from Afghanistan with priority being given to those working on human rights issues, including the rights of women, girls, and minorities, members of LGBT+ community, as well as those working with NGOs and European and international organisations, Human Rights Defenders and journalists. These places are in addition to the pledge made by the Irish Government to welcome up to 2,900 refugees between 2020 and 2023 through resettlement (650 refugees in 2020, 700 in 2021, 750 in 2022, and 800 in 2023) the majority of whom are to be Syrian.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and his Department are also supporting the processing of cases from Afghanistan through a number of Irish Embassies in the region and in Europe who are providing assistance in liaising with relevant authorities on transit arrangements.
