Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
1048. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of a case involving a person (details supplied) who wishes to be relocated on personal, family and medical grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13580/24]
View answerThe Department does not comment on individual cases.
There are nearly 28,000 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole (of whom 6,356 are children) compared with nearly 20,000 people at this time last year. Together with Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection displaced by the war in Ukraine, this means that Ireland is now accommodating over 100,000 people in state-supported accommodation.
Intensive efforts are being undertaken daily by staff in DCEDIY to source emergency accommodation. However, procuring enough bed space to keep pace with incoming arrivals remains extremely challenging, leading to the current accommodation shortage.
Within the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) at present, reunification requests are only considered for the following cohorts: husband, wife, partner, minor children with their parents or guardians, adults with dependant minor siblings, dependant family members where a care or medical need can be demonstrated.
As a result, the following cohorts will not be considered by IPAS for reunification:
• Parents of adults where there is no demonstrated dependency
• Adult siblings where there is no demonstrated dependency
• Grandparents where there is no demonstrated dependency
• Uncles, aunts or cousins
• Family members who have not made an application for international protection
• Family members who have received a decision on their IP application, i.e. have been declared a refugee, granted subsidiary protection status or permission to remain for humanitarian reasons.
