Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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125. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the supports that have been put in place by the International Protection Office and other relevant bodies, including the Legal Aid Board, for illiterate applicants and those with disabilities, such as visually impaired applicants, in terms of providing information regarding the single protection procedure and assistance with completing the international protection questionnaire. [12240/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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It is the policy of the International Protection Office (IPO) to ensure that the special needs of vulnerable applicants such as those with reading difficulties and with disabilities such as visual impairments, are addressed at various stages of the investigation and determination process in that office. This includes when an application for international protection is first made and subsequently at the interview and investigation stages.

Extensive training is provided to staff in the IPO known as international protection officers for this purpose many of whom worked in the former Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner. Training programmes have been developed in conjunction with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in line with international best practice.

In terms of the information provision, where the use of English is not feasible and it is necessary to ensure appropriate communication between an applicant and the staff of the International Protection Office, interpretation in the person's own language is generally provided whenever necessary. This includes applicants who are illiterate or those with reading or comprehension difficulties. Information material is provided in some 17 languages.

At the interview stage, the IPO provides a number of supports to applicants in vulnerable circumstances. Caseworkers will take note of any vulnerability documented on file and take into account an individual's physical limitations, if any. On arrival at interviews, insofar as practicable, all necessary guidance and support will be offered to applicants in relation to accessing interview rooms and facilities in the office. If necessary, the IPO will offer to accommodate family members to provide support to vulnerable applicants regardless of minor-adult status. If the applicant is unable to read, all documentation relevant to the interview will be read aloud and it will be ascertained that the applicant understands the process.

Applicants who are disabled or with reading difficulties may also be accompanied by a personal assistant, social worker or other helper to assist them while attending at the International Protection Office.

All applicants are reassured about the confidentiality of the determination process and will be facilitated with adequate breaks during interviews. Regardless of requests, vulnerable applicants will be encouraged to avail of extra breaks.

In order to protect the integrity of the protection process, the completion of the Application for International Protection Questionnaire (Form IPO2) is a matter for individual applicants to arrange in consultation with their legal representative. In this regard, a specialised service for international protection applicants is provided out of Legal Aid Board law centres in Dublin, Cork and Galway. I refer the Deputy to my response to Question 87 of Thursday 23 February, 2017, in which I referred to the Legal Aid Board's role in assisting applicants for international protection with the completion of their questionnaire.

The Legal Aid Board has an access officer to arrange for and co-ordinate the provision of assistance and guidance to people with disabilities who are seeking to access their services. In international protection matters, clients with disabilities, literacy issues or visual impairments are facilitated in bringing a friend, family member or other support (for example a representative from one of the specialist disability services and supports which are funded by the Health Service Executive) to their information and advice consultations with the Legal Aid Board. Legal Aid Board staff will communicate with applicants with hearing and visual impairments in a form that is accessible to them and compatible with adaptive technology.

Information on the international protection procedure is also available on the Legal Aid Board's website. The Legal Aid Board is committed to ensuring that its website achieves 'Level AA' conformance to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, to comply with the National Disability Authority's Code of Practice on Accessibility of Public Services and Information provided by Public Bodies.