Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2021
80. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the pilot vulnerability assessment scheme for international protection applicants has been implemented; the lessons his Department has gleaned from the pilot; when it is expected the standard implementation of vulnerability assessments will happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36292/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Vulnerability Assessment process, as provided for under Regulation 8 of the European Union (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018, 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 offers a vulnerability assessment to everyone who makes an application for international protection to the International Protection Office (IPO). Where an application includes children of an applicant, IPAS, with parental consent, 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 either through its own accommodation and ancillary services or, where appropriate, in collaboration with the HSE and other service providers.
To ensure that the interview stays to its purpose, the assessor uses 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 is carried out in a sensitive, conversational manner with gender-appropriate officers and interpretation as required.
It is intended that the assessment questions, the interview environment, and outcomes of assessments already conducted, will be kept under review during the pilot phase. This ongoing review will inform any further development of the assessment process to assist IPAS and other State actors in their efforts to meet the special reception needs of vulnerable protection applicants.
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 offers a vulnerability assessment to everyone who makes an application for international protection to the International Protection Office (IPO). Where an application includes children of an applicant, IPAS, with parental consent, 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 either through its own accommodation and ancillary services or, where appropriate, in collaboration with the HSE and other service providers.
To ensure that the interview stays to its purpose, the assessor uses 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 is carried out in a sensitive, conversational manner with gender-appropriate officers and interpretation as required.
It is intended that the assessment questions, the interview environment, and outcomes of assessments already conducted, will be kept under review during the pilot phase. This ongoing review will inform any further development of the assessment process to assist IPAS and other State actors in their efforts to meet the special reception needs of vulnerable protection applicants.
