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International Protection

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 May 2021

Thursday, 27 May 2021

Ceisteanna (21, 42)

Michael Moynihan

Ceist:

21. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the roll-out of the pilot vulnerability assessment programme for international protection applicants and plans to establish a vulnerability assessment process as outlined in the White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28736/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Brian Leddin

Ceist:

42. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the pilot vulnerability assessment scheme for international protection applicants has been implemented; the learnings his Department has obtained from the pilot; when the standard implementation of vulnerability assessments will occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28450/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 42 together.

A Vulnerability Assessment process is currently being piloted by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department. The pilot commenced in December 2020 and was extended to all new applicants for international protection from the beginning of February. The pilot will continue until end 2021, at which point it will be evaluated, and this will be used to inform the long term implementation of vulnerability assessments.

The purpose of these assessments is to determine if, by virtue of a particular category of vulnerability, an applicant is deemed to have special reception needs, what those needs are and what actions are required to address those needs.

IPAS assess the vulnerability of everyone who makes an application for international protection to the International Protection Office (IPO). Where an application includes children of an applicant, IPAS also assess their vulnerability in an appropriate manner.

The Vulnerability Assessment begins with an initial interview after the applicant first applies for international protection. If this initial assessment indicates that the applicant is a vulnerable person, within the meaning of the relevant EU Directive, further assessments may be carried out while the applicant is living in the IPAS Reception Centre, or subsequently when they have moved to longer term accommodation.

Taken together, these assessments are used to determine whether the applicant has special reception needs arising from any vulnerabilities identified. IPAS will endeavour to accommodate these needs in so far as possible.

To ensure that the interview stays to its purpose, the assessor will be provided with a standard list of assessment questions. These questions are based on the various categories of vulnerability identified within the EU Reception Conditions Directive and the Irish Regulations, and have been refined within the Irish context with the help of the HSE. The assessment will be carried out in a sensitive, conversational manner with gender-appropriate officers and interpretation as required.

It is intended that the questions used will be kept under review during the pilot phase and refined to ensure the process continues to elicit the best possible information to assist in the assessment.

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