2026-01-27

150. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the humanitarian admissions programme; if he will commit to accepting future applicants in the coming years under this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5993/26]

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. My question refers to the humanitarian admissions programme. The Minister will be aware that it is a very important programme. I wonder if he can make a statement on it and tell us whether new applications will be accepted in 2026 or how that scheme is going to progress into the future.

I thank the Deputy. As he will be aware, the humanitarian admissions programme prioritises at-risk individuals, human rights defenders, women's rights activists, LGBTQ+ individuals, judiciary and journalists for admission to Ireland as programme refugees. This is managed within the remit of the Irish refugee protection programme in the Department. Over 700 people from Afghanistan have been admitted to Ireland under this programme since its inception in 2021. Under the terms of the scheme the number of admissions available under the 2025 programme was set at 50 and the number of applications received exceeded that. Not all applications therefore were successful. The 2025 programme is now complete and arrangements are being made for Department officials to facilitate the arrivals of the remaining successful applicants. All applications submitted to the Department for consideration under the programme were subject to review by officials to ensure a fair process. The Department has committed to admitting 50 applicants under humanitarian admissions for both 2026 and 2027. Further information on the programme for 2026 will be made available shortly.

I hear what the Minister of State is saying. I am not entirely clear on why there is a limit of 50 because the people we are talking about here particularly need our support. For example, two Afghan women who are living in Ireland have spoken to me about this. They still have family stuck in Afghanistan. Their families are at risk because they have left and their families are necessarily a target then for the Taliban. We all know what the Taliban is capable of. We all know the abuse that women, in particular, suffer at the hands of the Taliban in Afghanistan. I know there is always pressure on resources in this regard but these are people who particularly deserve our support and our shelter and the opportunity to come here and live a life that they cannot live in their home country. They are often very highly skilled, very highly educated people. They can contribute in our community as well. Is there a reason that 50 has been picked? I am assuming it is 50 in 2026 and 50 in 2027. Is there a reason that number has been picked and can it be expanded?

I fully understand and accept what the Deputy is saying about the situations people find themselves in. There is no question that I, and the people who are directly on the coalface of operating this scheme, really understand the implications of somebody being accepted or not accepted into the programme. However, as I outlined to the Deputy, the programme is a very specific programme in how it actually handles people. Someone who comes in under the programme is provided with a very comprehensive wraparound range of services, which includes everything from English-language provision to community supports and structures. This enables those who arrive under the programme to integrate into Ireland very quickly and fully. It is because of that and because of the capacity constraints within the ability to deliver that programme that we believe setting the figure at 50 on an incremental basis per year is the best way to ensure not only that are we bringing people in, which we want to do, but also that we are delivering fully to them the most comprehensive service as part of the programme when they arrive.

I appreciate that and I understand where the Minister of State is coming from. I do not know if it is possible to say what the cost per member of that programme is, or if it has been broken down. In the context of their families, is there room to identify a person who has come here? In the case of Afghanistan, for example, it tends to be women; often very highly qualified women such as women journalists, women judges and women lawyers who come here and their families remain targets in Afghanistan. I appreciate what the Minister of State said about resources. Of course we have to keep an eye on that but in the circumstances of these people, can we identify what the per-person cost is and whether that cost is lesser for the members of their family who might want to come here? I have been in touch with lots of people in my constituency who have sheltered people and have agreed to house them when they are here. If there can be an alleviation to the cost to the taxpayer through people like that, is the Department open to this as something that could allow us to bring more people in under the programme?

As the Deputy knows, we had an original programme in relation to Afghanistan. We have moved to this particular model for the reasons I outlined to the Deputy in my earlier contributions. I think it is important, having moved to that model and having moved to an assessment system which enables what we believe to be the fairest and most accurate assessment of who can come and who can qualify for it, that we continue with that model for the moment. I take on board what the Deputy is saying about the impact this has on extended families. Unfortunately this is a scheme for which so many people are deserving. In this country we operate it in conjunction with other countries around the world which have their own schemes in place to give that particular refugee status to people who are a very vulnerable cohort. For the moment I am happy that the scheme is operating in the most fair and effective way we can do it. I am always open to look at new ideas and new processes to ensure that in the future it continues to operate in that manner.