Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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86. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the nationalities of the asylum seekers currently being accommodated at the former ESB offices in East Wall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61256/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Deputy, my Department, or any other Department, is unable to publish any information that would identify any person as being an international protection applicant. This is a separate matter to the law dealing with data protection matters more generally. 

My officials are legally obliged, under Section 26 of the International Protection Act 2015, to ensure that the identity of any person who applies for international protection is kept confidential. Section 26(1) sets out that: “the Minister and the Tribunal and their respective officers shall take all practicable steps to ensure that the identity of applicants is kept confidential”.

It is, therefore, an offence under law (punishable upon conviction by a Class A fine or up to 12 months in prison or both) that I or any of my officials would give any indication as to a person's status as an international protection applicant and thus breach their right to confidentiality. Due to its specificity, nationality can be an identifying characteristic and, therefore, cannot be disclosed.

As I am sure you will appreciate, these confidentiality requirements are especially important for an asylum-seeker, whose claim inherently supposes a fear of persecution in their home country and whose situation, or that of their family or friends still living in the country from which they have sought protection, can be jeopardised if the protection of their personal information is not ensured.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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87. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the nationalities of the asylum seekers currently being accommodated at a former convent building in Fermoy, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61257/22]

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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92. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of asylum seekers currently being accommodated at a former convent building in Fermoy, County Cork; the breakdown by their country of origin, gender, age and if they are single or part of a family; the date on which they were first accommodated on the premises; the date on which Cork County Council was informed of the plan to accommodate them at this site; the date on which local representatives in the area were informed of the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61253/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 92 together.

Deputy, my Department releases generic information such as age ranges and gender as these are traits common to people in the entire country. As such, they cannot be used to locate or identify a specific person.

My officials are legally obliged, under Section 26 of the International Protection Act 2015, to ensure that the identity of any person who applies for international protection is kept confidential. Section 26(1) sets out that: “the Minister and the Tribunal and their respective officers shall take all practicable steps to ensure that the identity of applicants is kept confidential” .

It is, therefore, an offence under law (punishable upon conviction by a Class A fine or up to 12 months in prison or both) that I or any of my officials would give any indication as to a person's status as an international protection applicant and thus breach their right to confidentiality.

Due to its specificity, nationality can be an identifying characteristic and, therefore, cannot be disclosed.

As I am sure you will appreciate, these confidentiality requirements are especially important for an asylum-seeker, whose claim inherently supposes a fear of persecution in their home country and whose situation, or that of their family or friends still living in the country from which they have sought protection, can be jeopardised if the protection of their personal information is not ensured.

As requested, please see below the total number of asylum seekers currently being accommodated at a former convent building in Fermoy, County Cork; the breakdown by their gender, age-range and if they are single or part of a family:

There are 63 people currently accommodated at a former convent building in Fermoy. Of this number, there are 19 families with 25 children and there are also 8 single women and no single males. Please see below age ranges:

In relation to prior engagement with the appropriate stakeholders in the area, I can confirm that I was in contact with local elected representatives who were informed of the decision before the arrival of international protection applicants on 29 November.

While efforts are made to notify public representatives and State agencies in advance of occupying a building, the emergency nature of the response required means that advance communications are not as comprehensive or as early as I, or my officials, would like.

Due to the sheer scale of the present crisis this inevitably means that emergency accommodation of those seeking refuge must be occupied on a faster timeline than would otherwise be the case.

Before the opening of any facility, my Department engages with local representatives to provide information as soon as possible following the agreement of terms with contractors. These constraints limit the time window for advance consultation. However, myself and my officials are cognisant of these issues and are working toward improving advance communications for elected representatives, local authorities and local communities in this regard.

I trust this information satisfies your query.