Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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847. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason there is no refugee programme in place for Palestinians, equivalent to the Afghan admission programme, considering the acute humanitarian crisis in Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23269/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I am acutely aware of the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza and my Department has worked closely with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs to ensure a coordinated national response to this volatile and evolving situation. This includes work to evacuate Irish citizens and their families who may require visa assistance.

Visa applications for family members of Palestinian nationals living in Ireland are considered on a case-by-case basis. My Department is in regular contact with the Embassy of Ireland in Israel regarding a number of visa applications, from residents of Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon. The Embassy are actively engaging with applicants to gather the required documents to ensure that the Visa Division of my Department have everything needed to progress these applications.

While all immigration schemes are kept under constant review, there are no plans to introduce a new scheme along the lines suggested by the Deputy.