Written answers
Wednesday, 17 January 2024
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
International Protection
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1412. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current occupancy number of all IPAS accommodation for international protection applicants; the current capacity of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1184/24]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As at 7 January 2024, the current occupancy of International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is circa 26,473 people. The total bed capacity is circa 27,297.
It should be noted that the figures are approximate as some centres were contracted on a room basis instead of occupancy and were given a capacity of 2 per room.
IPAS works at all times to ensure accommodation capacity is utilised in the most effective manner possible. There are a variety of reasons why capacity and actual occupancy may not be equal, including: where a person cannot share with another person for medical or other reasons; where a family configuration does not match exactly the available family accommodation; where rooms are maintained for isolation or quarantine should a resident contract Covid-19; and where rooms are being refurbished or not available due to maintenance work.
Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1414. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of vulnerability assessment questionnaires which have been reviewed by the resident welfare team; the number of those assessments which resulted in a determination of vulnerability; the number of those which are children; the number of those deemed vulnerable who have received follow up from an assessment officer; the number of those who have undergone a follow up appointment with an IPAS social worker to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1186/24]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The purpose of vulnerability 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.
The assessments are carried out by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) Resident Welfare Team. Everyone who registers an application for international protection is offered an assessment. Where an application includes children of an applicant, IPAS, with parental consent, also assess their vulnerability in an appropriate manner.
It is important to note that records capture the case outcome or decision, and whether it was made by an Assessment Officer or Social Worker. Further breakdown in relation to the assessment type cannot be provided.
Please see, in tabular format, the number of vulnerability assessments that have taken place by IPAS since 1st February 2021 to 31st December 2023; and the outcome/ decisions made in respect of those assessments.
| Vulnerability assessment 1 Feb 2021 – 31 December 2023 | Total |
|---|---|
| Persons deemed vulnerable by Assessment Officer (adult) | 1151 |
| Persons deemed vulnerable by Social Worker (adult) | 707 |
| Persons deemed vulnerable by Assessment Officer (minor) | 599 |
| Persons deemed vulnerable by Social Worker (minor) | 255 |
| Persons deemed not vulnerable by Assessment Officer | 895 |
| Persons deemed not vulnerable by Social Worker | 143 |
| Persons currently awaiting Assessment Officer follow up | 541 |
| Persons granted RS, SP or PTR prior to assessment(s) | 177 |
| Persons who did not attend their scheduled appointment(s) | 161 |
| Persons referred to Social Worker through 3rd party referral awaiting appointment | 85 |
| Persons referred to Social Worker by Assessment Officer awaiting appointment | 74 |
| Persons Resident Welfare Team were unable to contact at details provided | 54 |
| Persons who declined to participate during their assessment | 17 |
| Persons who declined to be contacted by the Resident Welfare Team | 14 |
| Open cases pending social worker decision | 16 |
| Persons who left State prior to assessment(s) | 8 |
| Case closed/no decision issued for reason otherwise specified | 4 |
| Grand Total | 4901 |
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