Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

100. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can clarify his Department's recent communication on accommodation and support for refugees; the reason that it discriminates between different refugees and specifically offers less support to international protection refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6068/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The health and wellbeing of all people who avail of accommodation provided by my Department is of the highest priority to me and my officials.

There is no discrimination between the supports offered to international protection applicants (IPAs) and Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) from Ukraine.

There are material differences between the rights and entitlements of IPAs and BOTPs because their rights are defined under two different EU Directives.

Directive 2011/95/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 sets out the standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection. When a person asks for asylum at the border of a country, that country’s authorities must examine their application. Those seeking asylum in Ireland must make an application for international protection. While that claim is being examined by the International Protection Office, the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) provides accommodation and related services to IPAs who wish to accept the offer of accommodation from the Irish State.

This offering includes food and utilities while the person is an IPA. Access to public medical services is provided and a weekly personal allowance is also paid to each person. In 2021 this was increased to €38.80 for adults and €29.80 for children.

After six months in Ireland, IPAs are eligible to work if they have not received a first instance decision on their application. IPAs are entitled to free legal aid to help them with their application and appeals, if necessary. IPA children also have a right to access mainstream education.

The Temporary Protection Directive is an EU Directive that was introduced in 2001. The Directive created a special procedure to deal with a ‘mass influx’ of people in need of protection. The Directive was activated by the European Council for the first time in March 2022 in response to the war in Ukraine.

Once the Directive is triggered, EU Member States must give anyone who benefits from temporary protection a residence permit while the temporary protection is in place. Formalities regarding visas and entry to the country must be kept to a minimum. People who have temporary protection must receive a document that clearly explains the provisions of temporary protection.

During the temporary protection period, EU member states must provide:

Access to suitable accommodation; Access to social welfare and medical care; Access to education for children under 18; The legal right to access employment immediately on entry to the country; Adults are also allowed to take part in vocational training.

Notwithstanding the differences in entitlements set out in these Directives, my Department makes no distinction in terms of the standard of accommodation that it seeks for both beneficiaries of temporary protection and International Protection Applicants.