ANSWER 1 The overall length of time taken to process asylum and associated cases to their finality is determined not

just by the length of time taken to process the cases by the independent refugee determination bodies and by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) but also by the time needed to determine the outcome of any consequential legal proceedings taken by the applicant. INIS has no desire to have applicants remain in the system any longer than the minimum period it takes to process their case. However, ultimately a balance has to be struck between maintaining the integrity of the States protection and immigration systems and the case put forward by the individual applicant all of which must be considered within the legal requirements and obligations. In the first instance requirements are set-down in primary and secondary legislation and these requirements are constantly evolving taking into account interpretation of the law by the Courts at both national and EU level. It is acknowledged that the length of time that residents spend in Direct Provision is an issue to be addressed. An amended Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill, to be introduced this year, should substantially simplify and streamline the existing arrangements for asylum, subsidiary protection and leave to remain applications. It will do this by making provision for the establishment of a single application procedure, so that applicants can be provided with a final decision on all aspects of their protection application in a more straight forward and timely fashion. The Minister made new Regulations last year governing the investigation and determination of applications for subsidiary protection in the State. The European Union (Subsidiary Protection) Regulations 2013, which came into effect on 14 November 2013, were made to address

certain matters which arose from a judgment of the High Court in January 2013. Under the new Regulations, responsibility for the processing of applications for subsidiary protection was transferred from the Department to the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner with appeals to be dealt with by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Both of these bodies are independent in the exercise of their statutory functions and they have substantial experience in the area of asylum investigations and appeals, respectively. Once the new arrangements have bedded down, the Minister's aim is for subsidiary protection applications currently on hand to be processed to finality by the statutory bodies concerned in the shortest possible timeframe consistent with quality and fair assessment of all cases and of course, subject to the cooperation of applicants and no further legal impediments arising. In those circumstances it is anticipated that very significant inroads will be made on the caseload by the end of 2014. ANSWER 2 Asylum seekers are entitled to the same public health services, including mental health services, as Irish citizens. In addition, asylum seekers in direct provision centres qualify for a medical card which allows them access a range of health services free of charge. Asylum seekers in direct provision first link in with health services when they are temporarily accommodated in a reception centre in Dublin after they first claim international protection. In the reception centre, they are offered medical screening and are linked in with Community Welfare services. Access is also provided to GP's, Public Health Nurses and psychological services. After a period of approximately two weeks, those asylum seekers are scheduled for dispersal to accommodation centres throughout the country, subject to

clearance by the HSE Health Centre in the reception centre. If there are particular health concerns, a person may be retained for a period at the reception centre or may be dispersed to specified accommodation centres with access to particular health services. Even after dispersal, further health needs may present. Such cases are reviewed by RIA's internal administrative health unit in conjunction with the local health services to see if any administrative arrangements, transfers etc., can be put in place. RIA has access to an independent medical referee to assist in the assessment of particular health needs. ANSWER 3 As at 2nd March, 2014 there were 4,299 persons accommodated by RIA across 34 accommodation centres. This represents a decline of 562 persons in Direct Provision accommodation since end January, 2013 (11.5%). It should be noted that, in respect of those in direct provision, RIA accommodates all those who make a claim for international protection and who seek accommodation until such time as they: (i) leave voluntarily; (ii) are removed - either by way of deportation or Dublin II transfer; (iii) are granted refugee status or subsidiary protection; or (iv) are granted leave to remain, either through the process set out in the Immigration Act, 1999 or by way of special scheme such as the 2005 IBC scheme. ANSWER 4 The latest available breakdown of duration of stay stats is for December 2013 and can be found on the RIA website statistics section. http://www.ria.gov.ie/en/RIA/RIADec(A4)2013.pdf/Files/RIAD ec(A4)2013.pdf Relevant details are as follows: Time spent by residents in Direct Provision system (as of 31 December, 2013) as a percentage

- < 1 year 13.9% - > 1 and < 2 years 8.5% - > 2 and < 3 years 9.5% - > 3 and < 4 years 11.8% - > 4 and < 5 years 13.2% - > 5 and < 6 years 15.5% - > 6 and < 7 years 12.2% - > 7 years 15.4% ANSWER 5 Asylum seekers are not required to avail of Direct Provision accommodation. In fact, a number of asylum seekers choose to make their own accommodation arrangements outside of direct provision. However, in such instances they are not entitled to State supports outside of the Direct Provision structure. Residents can stay away from the centre for some overnights, once prior notification is given to the centre manager and once appropriate details are given. As a child would be involved in such instances, it is important that contact details are provided in accordance with RIAs Child Protection policy. In cases such as the one outlined in the question, the Irish citizen parent is free provide support for their partner and child through their own means if they so choose. It is also possible to apply for leave to remain based on marriage to that EU citizen or based on the child being born in Ireland of an Irish parent, depending on the particular circumstances of the case. ANSWER 6 In 2013, Ireland had a recognition rate of 14.6%. It needs to be recognised that there is no 'target' recognition rate which States party to the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees are expected to achieve. Recognition rates can go up and down commensurate with the merits or otherwise of the applications presented. Ireland operates a comprehensive asylum determination process which ensures that

all applicants are treated with dignity, respect and every opportunity to present and have considered on its merits, and on no other basis, all elements of their request for asylum in the State. Our asylum system is robust but fair and anybody who presents here seeking asylum and who is entitled to refugee status will get it. One of the possible reasons for the variance of Ireland's recognition rate compared to the rest of the countries that supply figures to Eurostat is that Ireland does not include figures on the number of people granted Humanitarian Leave to Remain. Nearly every other Member State does as they operate under a single procedure application system i.e. refugee, subsidiary protection and humanitarian leave to remain. At present a single procedure does not operate in Ireland. Provision will be made in that regard in the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill, which remains part of the Government's Legislation Programme. Work on the Bill is being progressed in the Department to enable publication later this year. ANSWER 7 Once a person has been granted refugee status or other form of leave to remain, they are no longer entitled to Direct Provision accommodation. Such persons will have entitlement to full social welfare supports on the same basis as an Irish citizen, including rent supplement. RIA will write to such persons confirming that they are required to leave Direct Provision and allowing them some time to make their own accommodation arrangements. RIA has no role in sourcing alternative accommodation outside of Direct Provision. Where a person is having a genuine difficulty in sourcing private rented accommodation RIA will allow an extension of time in its accommodation while they make their arrangements. ANSWER 8 Resettlement is just one of the approaches taken by Ireland to support those displaced by the Syrian Conflict. Ireland is one of 20 countries worldwide and one of only 14 European countries that responded to UNHCRs call for resettlement places for refugees from Syria. In 2014, Ireland has pledged to accept 90 refugees displaced by the Syrian conflict under the annual resettlement quota programme. This is an increase of 40 persons over the 2013 resettlement quota and is in addition to 34

refugees of Afghan and Palestinian ethnic origin who were admitted from Syria in 2013. The 2014 resettlement programme includes provision for the admission of four serious medical cases that have been displaced due to the Syrian conflict. Also, since the outbreak of the Syrian conflict in March, 2011, 67 applications for asylum have been received within the State from persons claiming to be Syrian nationals. Of the applications processed to date the vast majority are being granted refugee status. In addition, on 15 January 2014, the Tnaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade announced an additional 12 million in funding by the Irish Government in response to the Syrian situation. *************************************************** *********