Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 February 2026
309. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 150 of 27 January 2026, if he is aware of the role that community support networks play in supporting those people arriving in Ireland under the Humanitarian Admissions Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8873/26]
View answer310. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration further to Parliamentary Question No. 150 of 27 January 2026, if his attention has been drawn to the pleas of community groups that are supporting people under the Humanitarian Admissions Programme in relation to their capacity to support additional people and the potential to expand the numbers accepted on this programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8874/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 309 and 310 together.
Between 2021 and 2024, Ireland welcomed over 700 people who were refugees from Afghanistan through the Irish Refugee Protection Programme's (IRPP) Afghan Programme.
As the Deputy is aware, within the remit of IRPP, a Humanitarian Admissions Programme prioritises at-risk individuals such as human rights defenders, women’s rights activists, LGBTQ+ individuals, judiciary and journalists. The Humanitarian Admissions Programme has been in place since 2021.
The Humanitarian Admissions Programme acts as a complementary means of supporting arrivals to Ireland under the IRPP. Government has committed to 50 admissions per year under the programme, from 2024-2027. Applications under the 2025 programme are completed and details of the 2026 programme will be available in due course.
Insofar as the important role that community sponsorship groups play in the scheme, it is the case that the group in question must have housing sourced and be committed to supporting the arriving beneficiary for a defined period of time. This ensures effective integration, community supports, and long term sustainable accommodation in the midst of the current accommodation crisis.
I am aware that the number of applications has exceeded the number of available admissions, and that there is a desire on the part of prospective sponsors groups to increase the numbers being supported, however, given the Government’s existing commitments to resettle refugees, it is not intended to increase the number of admissions available during the current phase of the IRPP.
