Written answers

Tuesday, 26 February 2019

Department of Justice and Equality

Family Reunification Applications

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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257. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the next date for persons to apply for reunification for families under the international humanitarian assistance programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9510/19]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Refugee Protection Programme Humanitarian Admission Programme 2 (IHAP) is a programme which allows holders of International Protection Status in Ireland, (i.e. Refugees with Convention or Programme Refugee Status), holders of Subsidiary Protection grants, and Irish Citizens, to make a proposal to me to bring to the State their family members who are nationals of one of the top ten major source countries of refugees as identified by the UNHCR. This programme serves as a very positive tool for encouraging integration in the knowledge that in doing so you can help family members in the future.

The number under the programme is capped at five hundred and thirty, over two years. Some one hundred and fifty two people were granted under window one, a number of whom have already joined their families in the state. The experience from the first round was that many were submitted in an incomplete manner and had to be returned. The second window for proposals under the IHAP closed on 8th February, and incomplete proposals from the first window could be resubmitted under this round. Work has been ongoing since then on assessing and verifying proposals. No decision has yet issued, though it is anticipated that all proposals will have had a decision issued by late May.

In the event of the 530 places not being reached under round two a further round will be announced following completion of the round two consideration. It is possible based on the numbers received under round two that the target may be reached.

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