Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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76. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on introducing a humanitarian admission programme similar to the the Syrian humanitarian admission scheme that could enable refugees, migrants and naturalised citizens to apply for their extended family members who are currently displaced or living in conflict zones to join them here. [40331/16]

Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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79. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on proposals by an organisation (details supplied) to enable Irish citizens and organisations to cosponsor a family reunification application by means of a sponsorship scheme, whereby persons, community groups, church groups, businesses or similar could support an person's family reunification application, offering monetary support or support in kind, such as employment, housing and other integration opportunities. [40334/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 79 together.

Before the migrant crisis escalated, my predecessor introduced a Syrian Humanitarian Admissions Programme (SHAP) subject to certain conditions being met. This was replaced later with the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) which allows for Syrians and other nationalities to benefit from resettlement and relocation schemes, and offers them protection in Ireland in their own right. This is a much improved programme allowing thousands to benefit from protection here. Under the IRPP, the Red Cross has investigated a number of pledges of public support and these are appreciated. There has been a significant challenge at EU level to maximise the functioning of the resettlement and relocation programmes. We will be 100% ahead of target on resettlement when the programme ends next September and following my recent visit to Greece, I am satisfied that the number coming in under relocation will ramp up to agreed levels in 2017. I am not of the view that the best solution to this crisis is to increase the number of programmes and all the administrative and legal complexities that go with them. My emphasis is to increase the number of people arriving in Ireland under the programmes currently in place. I am satisfied that we are making that progress now and that there is still capacity to ensure more Syrians can come to Ireland under our resettlement and relocation programmes and all our focus needs to be on meeting these targets. I would encourage all community groups and individuals to continue to make contact with offers of support to the Red Cross and the Irish Refugee Protection Programme - these will be followed up and assessed promptly and can directly benefit the increased numbers of people we have committed to welcoming to Ireland next year.

Significant resources are currently being invested in these humanitarian efforts through the offices of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme, the Office of the Promotion of Migrant Integration and the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner. As a result we have developed mechanisms and associated expertise to deal with resettlement and relocation. Our response to the migrant crisis in terms of accepting refugees is through the IRPP and all available resources are being directed to that Programme in order to meet the commitment entered into and I have no plans, at this point, to introduce any additional admission programmes.