Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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1902. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide the statistics that document the prevalence of physically disabled persons who have entered Ireland seeking international protection within the past 20 years. [41433/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) does not maintain data regarding the prevalence of physically disabled persons that have sought international protection (IP), however, some data is maintained following Vulnerability Assessments conducted by IPAS since 2021.

In accordance with S.I. No. 230/2018 - European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018, IPAS assesses whether a recipient has special reception needs, and if so, the nature of those needs. The Regulations define a number of categories of vulnerabilities which include, ‘a person with a disability, a person with serious illness and a person with a mental disorder’.

Vulnerability Assessments are voluntary and applicants are not required to participate or to share information with IPAS. Where an applicant states that they, or their child, have a medical need or disability during an assessment, the person will be sign posted to relevant services. Where appropriate, the applicant will be provided with information on how to make a self-referral or to directly access the relevant service. The information is also used by IPAS to appropriately accommodate people where required.

In accordance with these obligations, a vulnerability assessment pilot programme was introduced in 2021, overseen by the Resident Welfare Team in IPAS. However, in March 2024, it was necessary to formally suspend the pilot programme as a result of a significant increase in numbers of arrivals and constraints on available accommodation across the IPAS portfolio which placed extreme pressure on IPAS resources, including the Vulnerability Assessment Programme. The decision was communicated along with a suite of information to all of those queued for assessment, IPAS accommodation managers, NGO partners, all relevant stakeholders and the Department’s website.

From 1 January 2021 until the programme was suspended in March 2024, there were 42 adults and 16 children identified with a disability under ‘category 3’ following a Vulnerability Assessment.

‘Category 3’ was recorded where an applicant indicated they had a physical disability, specifying their inability to move freely, walk, dress, wash or climb stairs unaided.

Following the suspension in March 2024, Vulnerability Assessments recommenced for families on 11 November 2024 and for single females and couples on 2 July 2025. Since the recommencement, a total of 55 persons have been recorded as having a disability. This includes physical and other disabilities. While individual forms capture the exact vulnerability type, they have not been captured in data reports. It is important to note that disabilities are considered and addressed in so far as possible when accommodating persons and families on the day they arrive.

Vulnerability Triage Assessments are also offered to single male IP applicants. The Vulnerability Triage aims to identify the most vulnerable within this cohort and ensure that they are prioritised for accommodation. Those who consent to participate in an assessment, have a number of questions posed to them to determine significant vulnerabilities. While all Vulnerability Triages are documented and the data is recorded, the data does not include specific disabilities, but rather, detail of those accommodated for medical, age related or other needs determined by the Assessment Officer or IPAS Social Work Advisor.