Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 February 2026
323. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of vulnerability assessments (defined by regulation 8 of the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018) conducted; and the number of those assessments which resulted in a determination of vulnerability, in 2024 and 2025. [9076/26]
View answerIn accordance with [S.I. No. 230/2018 - European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 ], the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is obliged to assess whether a recipient has special reception needs, and if so, the nature of those needs.
The regulations define a relatively broad set of categories of vulnerability. They include any person who is a minor, an unaccompanied minor, a person with a disability, an elderly person, a pregnant woman, any single parent of a minor, a victim of human trafficking, a person with a serious illness or medical condition, a person with a mental disorder, and a person who has been subjected to torture, rape or other form of serious psychological, physical or sexual violence. In addition to these categories, IPAS gives consideration to persons who are LGBTQ+.
A Vulnerability Assessment Programme (which is voluntary) is in place to assess special reception needs. Where a vulnerability is identified, the person is signposted to relevant services and information is also used by IPAS to appropriately accommodate people. It is important to note that the majority of vulnerabilities can be addressed in all IPAS accommodation.
The Vulnerability Assessment Programme was paused during 2024 due to very significant increases in application numbers that had been seen from 2022 onward. The programme recommenced in November 2024, when family applicants were offered assessments, and from June 2025, the programme was expanded further to include all family and single female applicants. A breakdown of vulnerability assessments in (November and December) 2024 and 2025 is outlined below:
|
Year |
Total |
Total with no vulnerability |
Total with vulnerability |
Assessments with children |
No. of children with no co-vulnerability (apart from being a minor) |
|
2024 (Nov & Dec) |
673 |
95 |
578 |
343 |
254 |
|
2025 |
4537 |
489 |
4048 |
1655 |
1291 |
