Written answers

Thursday, 21 January 2021

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Asylum Seekers

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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266. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 631 of 17 November 2020, if the formal vulnerability assessment system for asylum seekers promised by the end of 2020 is operational; if so, the number of formal vulnerability assessments carried out to date under the new system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3332/21]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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A new vulnerability assessment process is currently being piloted by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department. 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. As part of this pilot, IPAS interview applicants to obtain information that will help establish if any categories of vulnerability apply. This is done in a sensitive, conversational manner with gender-appropriate officers and interpretation as required. A list of standard questions, based on the various categories of vulnerability identified within the EU Reception Conditions Directive 2013/33/EU, and refined for the Irish context with the help of the HSE, is available to the assessor and applicant to help ensure that the interview stays focused on its purpose.

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

The White Paper process on the reform of the international protection reception and accommodation system is currently underway, and as part of that process further detailed measures are being examined in relation to identifying and supporting those applicants who arrive to Ireland with a vulnerability or intersecting vulnerabilities.

Four assessments under the pilot process have taken place to date with the assistance of the HSE. It is expected that the pilot will be extended to all applicants in coming weeks once the necessary recruitment and training of additional staff resources is completed.

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