Overview of the main changes since the previous report update

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This report was previously updated in May 2023.

International protection

• Key Asylum Statistics: In 2023, 13,276 asylum applications were lodged.[1] The International Protection Office (IPO) issued a total of 8,442 decisions, 38% of which were positive.[2] Among these, 2,714 decisions granted international protection to applicants, while 531 granted humanitarian permission to remain[3] (see Statistics).

The median processing time for cases processed to completion in 2023 was 13 months[4] under the ordinary procedure and 8 weeks under the accelerated procedure.[5] The average processing time for appeals before the International Protection Appeals Tribunal in 2023 was 5.5 months.[6] A total of

9, 740 personal interviews were conducted throughout the year[7] (see Regular procedure).

Asylum procedure

• EU Asylum and Migration Pact: On the 27^th of March 2024, it was announced that the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, had secured government approval to seek the necessary agreement from the Houses of the Oireachtas (Houses of Parliament) to opt-in to measures in the EU Asylum and Migration Pact.[8] Subsequently, on the 30^th of April 2024, the Irish Refugee Council appeared before the Oireachtas Justice Committee in order to make submissions regarding the Pact. The Irish Refugee Council expressed concern that the reforms contained within the Pact reflect an effort to limit access to the protection process for those seeking asylum in Ireland. Of particular concern is the proposed increased use of detention whereby applicants arrive without documentation or cross the border without valid permission. The use of detention is something which the state has heretofore relied upon only in very limited circumstances, and it is the Irish Refugee Council’s opinion that, if approved, these measures will result in less safeguards in respect of those seeking protection in Ireland, and ultimately, an asylum procedure which does not respect basic rights.[9]
• Processing of applications: The International Protection Office issued 8,442 decisions in 2023.[10] There was a total of 13,276 applications for international protection made throughout 2023.[11] According to latest available statistics, the number of international protection applications throughout 2023 has decreased slightly when compared with the previous reporting period (13,651 applications throughout 2022)[12] (see Regular procedure).
• Length of procedure: Throughout 2023, the median processing time for first instance decisions was approximately 13 months for all cases decided pursuant to the ordinary procedure. This marks a slight decrease in the overall processing time compared with the previous reporting period (18 months for all applications under the ordinary procedure).[13] The median processing time for cases decided pursuant to the accelerated procedure was 8 weeks as of April 2024.[14] However, processing times under the ordinary procedure remained lengthy in view of the commitment by the Department of Justice to reduce the overall processing time to 6 months in line with the recommendations of the Expert Advisory Group.[15] The median waiting period for appeals before the IPAT was 5 months[16] (see Regular procedure)
• Access to procedure: In January 2023, it was reported that the Irish Government were considering the introduction of ‘stronger border control measures’ in order to facilitate stricter immigration checks with regard to arriving passengers.[17] Subsequently, in February 2023, it was reported that Gardaí had established a practice of travelling to international airports so as to ensure persons travelling to Ireland for the purposes of seeking international protection were in possession of the correct travel documentation, as well as for the purpose of examining ‘patterns and flows’ of persons travelling into the state. Additionally, Gardaí begun meeting passengers at the steps of arriving aircraft at Dublin airport for the purposes of checking their passport and details.[18] While the Irish Refugee Council has not received any direct reports of persons being refused access to the international protection process on arrival in the State, it is nevertheless of significant concern that individuals may be refused leave to land before any opportunity to seek protection arises (see Access to the procedure and registration).
• International protection appeals: The vast majority of appeals before the IPAT proceeded on a remote basis via audio-video link throughout 2023. In circumstances where an appeal was deemed unsuitable to proceed remotely, the appeal proceeded by way of an on-site oral hearing. This usually occurred in situations whereby to proceed with the appeal remotely would be contrary to the interests of justice or whereby the applicant requested an onsite oral hearing.

Throughout 2023, the IPAT issued a total 1,582 appeal decisions.[19] Of these decisions, 389 applicants were granted refugee status, 34 were granted subsidiary protection status and the remaining 969 appeals were rejected on their merits.[20] As of the 1^st of December 2023, a further 3,343 appeals were pending before the Tribunal.[21] The average median duration of the appeal procedure in 2023 was 5.5 months[22] (see Appeal).

• Accelerated procedure: On 8 November 2022, the International Protection Office introduced a revised international protection application procedure in accordance with the European Communities (International Protection Procedures) Regulations 2022. Under the revised procedure applicants from so-called ‘safe countries of origin’ now receive a date for their substantive interview within four to six weeks of making their initial application. The accelerated procedure continued to operate throughout 2023. The Irish Refugee Council received several concerning reports from applicants subject to the procedure. Numerous applicants reported that they had not had the opportunity to seek legal advice prior to undergoing their personal interview. This was partly due to the short turn-around time between the applicant’s initial application and interview, and partly due to applicants not being advised at the time of making their application of their right to seek free legal advice from the Legal Aid Board.[23] Additionally, many applicants subjected to the accelerated procedure were prevented from accessing the labour market in circumstances whereby they received a negative first-instance decision on their international protection application prior to becoming eligible for labour market access. Applicants in such circumstances may then be subject to a protracted appeals process whereby they do not have any entitlement to engage in employment. Newly arrived protection applicants from ‘safe countries’ who were not offered accommodation on arrival and in many cases, consequently street homeless, were also subject to the accelerated procedure. In some cases, applicants were scheduled for their substantive interviews prior to having been offered accommodation by IPAS.[24] Interaction with such a complex legal process, without the provision of adequate legal advice, is extremely challenging and in the opinion of the Irish Refugee Council, it is completely inappropriate that an applicant be required to undertake a substantive interview while experiencing street homelessness. In January 2024, the Irish Refugee Council wrote to the International Protection Office requesting that applicants subject to the accelerated procedure and experiencing homelessness be given the option to postpone their protection application until such time as they are offered accommodation, however, in a subsequent response, the International Protection Office indicated that the option to pause one’s interview would not be considered on the basis to do so would be ‘detrimental to the interests of applicants’ and could result in further delay to. the applicant’s application[25] (see Accelerated procedure).
• Updated list of ‘safe countries’ of origin: In June 2023, the Department of Justice announced that it was to conduct a review of the list of so-called ‘safe countries of origin’, as established pursuant to the International Protection Act 2015 (Safe Countries of Origin) Order 2018.[26] The review proposed the addition of several countries to the existing list. Under Irish law, a country may be designated as ‘safe’ whereby it can be demonstrated that there is no persecution, torture or inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment and no threat by reason of indiscriminate violence in situations of international or armed conflict.[27]

In October 2023, the Department of Justice invited submissions from relevant stakeholders with regard to the proposed changes. The Irish Refugee Council provided its observations, stating that for each proposed addition, the circumstances in the relevant country did not meet the threshold of ‘no persecution or other ill treatment’. The IRC also expressed its concern that the changes made pursuant to the accelerated procedure in November 2023 had the consequence of removing specific procedural safeguards from the application process, particularly in respect of applicants originating from designated safe countries. In January 2024, the Minister for Justice announced that, following the conclusion of the review process, two countries, Algeria and Botswana, would be added to the safe countries list.[28] The rationale for this, according to the Minister for Justice, was to make the international protection process more efficient and to deter people from using Ireland’s asylum system as a route for ‘economic migration’[29] (see Safe country concepts).

• Modernisation of International Protection Process: In July 2023, in response to the significant increase in international protection, and further to the recommendations established in the Catherine Day Report, the Department of Justice published a report on the international protection modernisation programme for 2023 and 2024. This programme was established with a view to enhancing efficiencies and throughput, as well as improving the application, interview and decision -making process for applicants.[30] As part of the reform strategy, the Department is aiming to increase decision making targets to 1,000 first instance decisions per month by spring 2024. Additionally, both the IPO and IPAT’s operational capacity is currently being significantly expanded to meet increased caseloads and decision-making output. Additional resources are also being deployed through increasing staffing at both the IPO and the IPAT. These reforms are being supported by a significantly increased budget allocation of approximately € 34m in 2024 to so as to continue to scale up processing.[31]
• Revised age assessment process: In correspondence with the Irish Refugee Council in February 2022, it was confirmed that Tusla did not have a national policy or approved internal guidelines on age-assessments for use in determining the age of unaccompanied minors or separated children referred from IPO or Dublin Airport. Following further correspondence from the Irish Refugee Council and the Jesuit Refugee Service, Tusla engaged in a deliberative process in conjunction with its operational and legal services to determine an eligibility procedure for receipt of Tusla services. Tusla subsequently circulated a draft procedure amongst stakeholders and sought observations regarding the draft policy. As of January 2023, the policy had yet to be published. However, in April 2023, a finalised policy document, ‘Eligibility for Services for Separated Children Seeking International Protection’ was circulated amongst relevant stakeholders. While it is evident from the Irish Refugee Council’s recent attendance at eligibility assessments that the policy has now been implemented, it is noted that the policy document is not publicly available on Tulsa’s website or elsewhere.[32] The policy seeks to provide procedural guidance to Tusla social work staff on undertaking an intake eligibility assessment. The revised intake eligibility assessment is underpinned by best practice and is, according to Tusla, undertaken to determine if the individual is a child in need to services provided by Tusla’s Separated Children Seeking International Protection team. The principles underpinning the new assessment process are a child centred approach, with primary consideration of the best interests of the child at the core of the assessment, as well as the dignity and respect of the child concerned, and the safety of other children in care. Additionally, the person is treated as a child during the assessment process and is given the benefit of the doubt throughout both the assessment and appeal stage, even whereby there is uncertainty as to whether they are a child[33] (see Age Assessment of Unaccompanied Minors).
• Unaccompanied minors seeking international protection: In January 2024, it was reported that there had been, according to Tusla, the child and family agency, an ‘unprecedent increase’ in the number of unaccompanied children presenting to its Separated Children Seeking International Protection Service (SCSIP Service).[34] According to statistics, in the period between January and August 2023, 280 unaccompanied minors had arrived in Ireland and sought international protection.[35] In 2022, Tusla received 597 referrals to its SCSIP service. 301 of these referrals were minors from Ukraine, while 227 were from other countries including Afghanistan, Algeria, Congo, Georgia, Somalia and Zimbabwe, and involved children ages 12-17 years old.[36] In response to the recent increase in arrivals, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman stated that he was due to receive a stakeholders’ group report on the issue in mid-January 2024 and would consider its recommendations.[37] Tusla stated that it had also scaled up services and increased staffing levels.[38]

Separately, it was reported that 200 unaccompanied children living in state care had been accommodated in unregulated Special Emergency Accommodation.[39] Throughout 2023, a shortage of places in group care homes and foster caring arrangements meant that Tusla became increasingly reliant on emergency arrangements, whereby unaccompanied minors were housed in B&Bs, rental properties or holiday homes. While providers of accommodation for unaccompanied minors are generally required to register with Tulsa prior to caring for minors, there exists an exception under the Child Care Act 2001, whereby a child is at risk of imminent homeless and Tusla is satisfied that ‘there is not accommodation available elsewhere.’[40] Whereby it is later determined that the placement is suitable as an ongoing accommodation arrangement for the child, the provider will then be required to register the setting with Tusla as a children’s residential care centre.[41] According to reports, an internal Department of Children briefing concerning the unregulated emergency accommodation settings express concern that such placements ‘may not adequately meet the needs of children’ and further meant that ‘vulnerable children could be placed with private organisations without oversight for a period of up to three months.’[42]

Concerns were also raised regarding the number of unaccompanied children seeking international protection who went missing from state care. Throughout 2023, 49 children were reported missing from State care and as of January 2024, 20 of those children had not returned or been accounted for.[43] An investigation conducted by The Journal determined that in many cases, no public appeals for the missing children were made by An Garda Síochána[44] (see Age Assessment of Unaccompanied Minors).

• Response to situation in Afghanistan: In August 2021, in response to the emerging humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the Department of Justice confirmed that it would begin prioritising international protection applications from Afghan nationals in line with updated advice provided by UNHCR. The Department also confirmed that applications for family reunification made by Afghan nationals pursuant to the International Protection Act 2015 would now be prioritised and fast-tracked to completion, with full consideration given to the humanitarian context.[45] The extent to which prioritisation continued throughout 2023 varied in practice. While some applicants were indeed prioritised, others were required to wait long periods for a determination on their application.[46]

In September 2021, the Irish Government also approved the introduction of the Afghan Admissions Programme, enabling current or former Afghan nationals legally resident in Ireland on or before 1 September 2021 to apply to nominate up to four close family members – either living in Afghanistan or who have recently fled to neighbouring territories – to apply for temporary residence in Ireland. The programme envisages the admission of up to 500 Afghan nationals to Ireland. While welcoming the introduction of the programme, the Irish Refugee Council, along with several other migrant rights organisations, highlighted various points of concern, including the limited number of places available and the restrictive eligibility criteria.

The programme opened for applications on the 16^th of December 2021 and closed on the 11^th of March 2022. There was a total of 528 applications under the programme. As of 8^th November 2023, the Department of Justice had issued 234 positive decisions in respect of 623 beneficiaries. A further 32 negative decisions in respect of 109 individuals had been issued. In addition, 68 applicants had been informed that their applications in respect of 183 individuals were not eligible under the terms of the Programme. As of 8 November 2023, 178 applications in respect of 555 beneficiaries were pending.[47] While initially anticipated that AAP would largely be concluded by the end of 2023, as of January 2024, the Department of Justice continues to process remaining applications.[48] In the period between January and October 2023, a total of 476 Long Stay Join Family were also issued to Afghan nationals[49] (see Differential treatment of specific nationals in the asylum procedure).

• Response to war on Gaza: In October 2023, following the escalation of conflict in Gaza, the Irish Refugee Council wrote to the Taoiseach, the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Children Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. In its correspondence, the Irish Refugee Council supported the call for a ceasefire and the free flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Additionally, IRC recommended that personal interviews in respect of international protection applicants from the Occupied Palestinian Territories be dispensed with where possible, that statutory-based and discretionary family reunification applications be expedited and that the establishment of a humanitarian admissions or resettlement scheme be considered.[50]

Subsequently, in January 2024, the Department of Justice stated, in response to a Parliamentary Question, that it was working in conjunction with the Department of Foreign Affairs to ‘ensure a coordinated national response’ to the evolving situation in Gaza. This included ‘work to evacuate Irish citizens and their families’ from the region. Additionally, the Department of Justice stated that it is in regular contact with the Embassy of Ireland in Israel regarding a number of visa applications from residents of Gaza. According to the Department of Justice, the Embassy are actively engaging with applicants to gather the required documents so as to ensure that the Visa Division have everything required to progress such applications. It was also implied that no specific visa scheme or humanitarian programme would be established with a view to providing temporary Irish residence to persons affected by the ongoing offensive[51] (see Differential treatment of specific nationals in the asylum procedure).

Reception conditions

• Reception capacity: Capacity within the Direct Provision accommodation system remained a significant issue throughout the year. 2023 saw a significant number of individuals seeking international protection in Ireland, many of whom sought accommodation from IPAS. Accommodation capacity was therefore extremely constrained. On several occasions during the year, IPAS exhausted its accommodation stock, resulting in many international protection applicants being refused accommodation on arrival in the state. Most recently, on the 4^th of December 2023, the International Protection Accommodation Service announced that it would not be in a position to provide accommodation to all international protection applicants due to a severe shortage in accommodation capacity. As a result, all single male international protection applicants who presented to the International Protection Office were assessed by IPAS and HSE staff for any significant vulnerabilities or health issues and prioritised for accommodation as necessary. Whereby no significant vulnerabilities were identified, male applicants were not provided with accommodation.[52] This resulted in many applicants having no option but to sleep on the street for prolonged periods, often during bouts of inclement weather conditions and amidst a period of increased anti-immigrant sentiment.[53] At the time of updating, the Irish Refugee Council was aware of several individuals sleeping on the street for a period of approximately 2 months.[54]

IPAs who were not provided with accommodation received a temporary increase of €75 to their Daily Expense Allowance (DEA). This increased the allowance to €113.80 a week for eligible applicants.[55] Applicants were also advised that they could make an application for an Additional Needs Payment (ANP), to cover essential needs such as food, transport, or accommodation, however, the extent to which this was made available to applicants in practice remained unclear at the time of updating.[56]

As of 14^th May 2024, 1, 780 newly arrived international protection applicants were without any state-provided accommodation.[57] Families with children and single women continued to be offered accommodation.[58]

Separately, in April 2023, following judicial review proceedings initiated by the Irish Refugee Council Independent Law Centre, the Irish High Court declared that the State’s failure to provide accommodation, food, and basic hygiene facilities to newly arrived international protection applicants was unlawful and breached the applicant’s right to dignity under the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. In finding a breach of the Reception Conditions Regulations, Mr Justice Meenan stated that “Directing persons such as the applicant to private charities to receive supports which the Minister is obliged to give cannot be seen as anything other than completely unacceptable” and that it “does not come remotely close to what is required by law”. He concluded that “Even though the Minister is making efforts to secure accommodation this does not absolve him of his obligations under the Regulations”[59] (see Housing).

• Deterioration in reception standards: Additionally, throughout of 2023, there was a significant and continuous deterioration in the standard of accommodation provided to international protection applicants. 2023 continued to see a movement away from the traditional use of hotel and guest house accommodation and an increased reliance by the State on so-called ‘emergency centres.’ In January 2023, it was announced that Kilbride Army Camp, a former army barracks in a remote area of Co. Wicklow, would be utilised as accommodation for male international protection applicants.[60] Many residents reported sub-standard, overcrowded living conditions which posed a risk to the personal safety, health, and wellbeing of individuals living at the facility. Residents were initially advised that they would spend a period of 6 weeks at the facility, however, it subsequently transpired that many individuals would spend indefinite periods at the camp, in some cases following periods of homelessness on arrival in the State.[61] Residents also reported an apparent lack of governance and oversight within the camp, particularly regarding the needs of the residents, with no central manager present on site. The isolated location of the camp, as well as lack of public transport links also meant that residents had difficulty accessing employment in addition to basic services. The levels of stress, anxiety and frustration amongst residents were also apparent, with many residents reporting a significant deterioration in their mental health since arriving at the facility. In November 2023, it was reported that some residents engaged in a hunger strike in protest of the conditions at the camp. It is understood that IPAS officials visited the camp, and an agreement was reached that those residents engaged in hunger strike would be transferred elsewhere.[62] In November 2023, the Irish Refugee Council wrote to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, outlining its concern in relation to conditions at the facility and providing recommendations for improvement of conditions at the camp.[63]

Throughout 2023, the State also continued to use tented accommodation to accommodate international protection applicants at various locations around the country. While initially intended as a temporary measure, many applicants spent months residing in wholly unsuitable accommodation which did not meet their basic needs and at times exposed them to freezing and wet weather conditions. Following the decommission of all tented accommodation in the State in late 2022, on 5^th of January 2023, it was reported that tented accommodation was once again being used to house international protection applicants at Knockalisheen in Co Clare.[64] Additionally, on the 1^st of February 2023, it was reported that Columb Army Barracks, Co. Westmeath was to be used as a site for the establishment of 15 further tents for the accommodation of approximately 120 male international protection applicants for a period of 12 months.[65] Subsequently, in June 2023, it was announced that a site located at the former Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum, Co. Dublin, was also approved for use as tented accommodation for up to 176 international protection applicants.[66] As of January 2024, there were 346 international protection applicants, all single males, living across the three centres.[67]

Throughout 2023, the State continued to rely on emergency centres comprised of disused offices, large conference rooms, schools, and sports halls in which to accommodate international protection applicants. Applicants were often accommodated in congregated and overcrowded settings without access to basic public services. The Irish Refugee Council was alerted to numerous grievous risks to vulnerable residents accommodated in these centres, including to women and minor children.[68] Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre also continued to operate throughout the year as both a transit hub for the processing of beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, as well as for the accommodation of newly arrived international protection applicants. As of January 2024, there were 574 international protection applicants resident in the centre[69] (see Conditions in Reception Facilities).

• Suspension of vulnerability assessment pilot project: Regulation 8 of the European Union (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 provides for the establishment of a vulnerability assessment process. Until January 2021 no standardised assessment was carried out in respect of vulnerable international protection applicants in Ireland, despite this being a clear requirement under EU law. At the end of January 2021, a pilot project to assess the vulnerability of applicants was established at Balseskin reception centre in Dublin.[70] The pilot scheme was subsequently extended to all newly arrived international protection applicants, as well as existing applicants, and aims to determine whether the applicant has special reception needs arising from any vulnerabilities identified. From 1st February 2021 to 1st November 2023, 4,050vulnerability assessments were undertaken.^[71]

On the 8^th of March 2024, IPAS announced that the pilot scheme would be suspended until further notice, citing ongoing demands on the Resident Welfare Team’s service due to the increased numbers of arrivals of protection applicants in the State as well as constraints on available accommodation across the IPAS portfolio. It was not clear at the time of updating when, or indeed if, assessments would resume.[72] The Irish Refugee Council is extremely concerned that the suspension of the pilot scheme amounts to a breach of the aforementioned Reception Conditions Regulations. This is particularly the case whereby the instance of vulnerability within the asylum-seeking population continues to increase amidst deteriorating reception standards and significant levels of homelessness in respect of newly arrived male protection applicants (see Identification of Vulnerable Applicants).

• HIQA Inspections of IPAS Accommodation: As of 09 January 2024, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) assumed the responsibility for monitoring and inspecting International Protection Accommodations Service centres against the legally binding National Standards for Accommodation Offered to People in the Protection Process. This function was provided to HIQA by an amendment to the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 by way of the European Communities (Reception Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 649 of 2023).[73]

Whereby centres are subject to inspection, a HIQA inspector will visit the IPAS centre and speak with residents, members of staff and centre managers in order to gain an insight into how the service is run. Inspectors will also examine records held by IPAS centres. Some inspections will be announced, while others will be unannounced. After the inspection, HIQA inspectors will prepare a report in respect of the centre and determine the quality of the services and support provided. Inspection reports will be published on HIQA’s website under the inspection reports section. On the 18 April HIQA published its first reports on four centres.[74] If improvements are required in IPAS centres, the service provider will be required to submit a plan on how and when these improvements will be made. The implementation of these plans will be closely monitored by HIQA.[75]

While the commencement of HIQA’s inspection and monitoring function is welcomed, the Irish Refugee Council remains deeply concerned regarding the exclusion of emergency centres from HIQA’s remit. In the experience of the IRC, the most difficult conditions persist within ‘emergency’ and ‘pre-reception’ facilities, and not in permanent centres. Additionally, the number of emergency centres operating in the country has far surpassed that of permanent centres. As of February 2024, IPAS operated 270 properties across the State, of which just 49 were permanent centres (see Direct Provision Centres Management and Evaluation).

• Labour Market Access Delays: As a consequence of the significant increase in the number of international protection applicants arriving in the state throughout 2023, there were very high volumes of applications received by the Labour Market Access Unit in respect of permission to work. This resulted in significant processing delays of approximately 145 days for first time permission applications.[76] Thus, while applicants are generally eligible for labour market access permission 6 months after their initial application for protection, many applicants are waiting up to 9.5 months in order to access the labour market.[77] In the view of the Irish Refugee Council this may constitute a breach of the Reception Conditions Directive which requires that an applicant be permitted access to the labour market within nine months of their initial application for protection. The Irish Refugee Council has written to the Minister for Justice in relation to this issue, however, no response had been received at the time of updating.[78]

The lengthy delays are particularly concerning in circumstances whereby an applicant is subject to the accelerated procedure on the basis that, owing to delays in the granting of labour market access permission, applicants may receive a negative first-instance decision on their application prior to becoming eligible for labour market access. Applicants who receive a negative first-instance decision may then be subject to a protracted appeals process whereby they do not have any entitlement to engage in employment.[79]

According to the latest available statistics, from 2018 to present, the Labour Market Access Unit has received 24, 392 first-time applications for labour market access permission. Of these applications, 20,288 first-time applications were granted, while 3, 361 applications were refused. Moreover, as of January 2024, there were 3,000 applications pending before the Labour Market Access Unit[80] (see  Access to Labour Market).

Content of international protection

• Family Reunification delays: Throughout 2023, there were persistent delays in the processing of family reunification applications. These delays occurred both in the issuing of questionnaires, and in the acknowledgment and processing of applications for family reunification, meaning that in many cases, applicants were required to wait lengthy periods for a decision to be issued in respect of their application. In the experience of the Irish Refugee Council, such delays have a detrimental impact on the enjoyment of family life for both applicants and their family members, who continue to face separation for prolonged periods. This is particularly concerning in cases whereby family members were vulnerable or facing persecution in their country of origin.

According to statistics released by the Department of Justice, 820 applicants applied for 2,330 family members throughout 2023. At the end of the year, 923 applications for 2,924 family members were awaiting a decision. The average processing time for applications, according to the Department of Justice, was 12 months throughout 2023. However, in the experience of the Irish Refugee Council, processing times were often much longer in practice, in many cases taking at least 18 months and, in some cases, up to 28 months[81] (see Family Reunification).

• Homelessness in respect of persons with status: Throughout 2023, many individuals with international protection status or humanitarian leave to remain who were residing in Direct Provision accommodation after receiving their status were served with notice to source their own accommodation or failing this, be transferred to alternative IPAS accommodation, usually to emergency or tented accommodation. The purpose of the policy was to release accommodation capacity for those in the international protection process who were awaiting determination on their application. However, transfers of this nature gave rise to significant issues for those affected. In the experience of the Irish Refugee Council, many people who received transfer notices left Direct Provision without arranging a sustainable tenancy. Many stayed with friends or family temporarily and given the precariousness of such arrangements, this often led to homelessness. Whereby individuals took up the transfers, progress in education and employment, as well as o other integration indicators, were lost when people were transferred. Many people were transferred several hours away from where they worked or had educational opportunities, or indeed where they have made local connections in the community, to an isolated, unknown area. This meant that they lost the social capital which could assist them when searching for somewhere to live.[82] Finally, the policy also failed to acknowledge the reality of the housing market. According to available statistics, just 27 properties were available to rent within the discretionary rate of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme as of September 2023.[83] The Irish Refugee Council wrote to IPAS and the Department of Housing to outline these concerns, however, at the time of updating, the policy continued to operate.[84] As of December 2023, there were 5,960 persons with status residing in Direct Provision centres around the company[85] (see Housing).

Case law summary:

The following notable decisions were issued by the Irish courts during the review period:

• Access to reception: Y. (A minor suing by his next friend Aoife Dare) v. The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth & Ors. [2023] 175 JR. The decision in S.Y. was delivered by the Irish High Court on the 21^st of April 2023. The case concerned a 17-year-old international protection applicant who, on arrival in the State, was refused accommodation by the International Protection Accommodation Service due to lack of capacity within the direct provision system. The applicant was instead provided with a 25 euro supermarket voucher and was forced to sleep on the street for a period of three weeks, during which he endured inclement weather, hunger, significant risk to his personal safety, and theft of his personal belongings. The applicant was one of over 900 protection applicants who, at the time of proceedings, had not been offered accommodation upon arrival in the State. Mr Justice Meenan heard the matter as a ‘lead case’ in order to determine the legal issues and entitlements following a number of similar applications made by international protection applicants who found themselves in the same circumstances as the applicant. Giving judgment in the matter, Mr. Justice Meenan declared that the State’s failure to provide accommodation, food, and basic hygiene facilities to newly arrived international protection applicants was unlawful and breached the applicant’s right to dignity under the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the Reception Conditions Regulations. Mr Justice Meenan stated that “Directing persons such as the applicant to private charities to receive supports which the Minister is obliged to give cannot be seen as anything other than completely unacceptable”and that it “does not come remotely close to what is required by law”. He concluded that “Even though the Minister is making efforts to secure accommodation this does not absolve him of his obligations under the Regulations.”[86]
• Access to the labour market: A (A Minor) -v- International Protection Appeals Tribunal (Labour Market Access) [2023] IEHC 141. This case concerned two parents and their minor child. The parents previously applied for international protection and their applications were denied. Thereafter, they were issued with deportation orders. The couple’s child was born in April 2021 and thereafter, an application for international protection was made in respect of the child. The parents sought to argue that they should be granted labour market access as provided for in the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018, on the basis that their child was an international protection applicant. At the time of proceedings, the child had since been granted refugee status and the parents’ status was regularised as part of the Regularisation Scheme for Undocumented Migrants in September 2022. The parents challenged the refusal to grant them labour market access permission by way of judicial review in the High Court. Giving judgment Mr. Justice Simons considered that the parents did not have a vicarious right to work derived from their child. He re-stated that the normal age limitations with regard to work apply to all children in the State also applied to all children in the State also applied to the child in this case, and that the child concerned did not have a right to work. With regard to whether the parents had derived a right to work, Mr. Justice Simons noted that the CJEU had previously held that the parents of a minor EU citizen may enjoy a derived right of residence and permission to work vis-à-vis their child. However, in this case the claimants had asserted that in order to meet the special reception needs of the child, and moreover, in order to ensure that the child had an adequate standard of living, as was required by theRecast Reception Conditions Directive 2013/33/EU, the parents ought to have been granted labour market access. Mr. Justice Simons dismissed this argument, concluding that under the Directive, the obligation was upon the Member State to provide material reception conditions and this did not include access to the labour market for persons who are not themselves international protection applicants. Accordingly, the case was dismissed and it was determined that in circumstances whereby a minor child does not have a right to work in the state, their parents cannot vicariously exercise such a right to labour market access, nor could they derive a right to work from the child.[87]
• Exclusion from international protection: T (Russian Federation) v. International Protection Appeals Tribunal [2023] IEHC 271. This case concerned an Muslim international protection applicant from the Caucasus region of Russia. He applied for international protection in Ireland and asserted that he was being targeted by the Federal Security Service (“FSB”) of the Russian Federation and that the FSB had made false accusations of terrorism against him due to his failure to co-operate with them. The applicant further alleged that if he were to be returned to Russia, he would be sentenced to prison for a long period and that the FSB would ultimately engineer his death and report it as a suicide or natural causes. The International Protection Appeals Tribunal made a finding that the applicant had a well-founded fear of persecution on the grounds of religion, imputed political opinion and membership of a particular social group, but thereafter, concluded that the applicant was excluded from refugee status on the basis that there were serious reasons for considering that he had committed a serious non-political crime. The applicant challenged the Tribunal’s decision by way of judicial review. In Simons J., giving judgment in the High Court, concluded that the Tribunal failed to carry out the required individualised assessment in respect of the applicant and that its decision was thus invalid. In particular, it was noted that the Tribunal Member had failed to adequately establish the nature of the crimes the applicant was believed to have committed and thus, there had been no analysis of whether the crime was ‘serious’, ‘non-political’ or whether the applicant was personally responsible for the commission of the crimes concerned. The decision of the IPAS was thus quashed and remitted to the IPAT for reconsideration.[88]
• Access to adequate reception conditions: A and R.J v Minister of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Ireland and the Attorney General [2023] IEHC 717. The applicants in this case sought international protection in the State in early 2023. Upon application, they were not provided with accommodation by the International Protection Accommodation Service due to lack of capacity within the Direct Provision system. They were provided with supermarket vouchers, as well as information relating to charities providing day services, including meals, showers, etc. From March 2023, the applicants were permitted to access the Daily Expense Allowance (DEA) in the amount of €38.80 and could also obtain an Additional Needs Payment at the discretion of the social welfare service. While the State accepted that it did not meet the applicant’s entitlement to accommodation pursuant to the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 230/2018) and it accepted that declaration of a breach of the applicant’s rights was appropriate in the circumstances. The applicants thus claimed damages on this basis, however, this was opposed by the State on the basis that the failure to provide the applicants with accommodation arose from force majeure, namely due to lack of available capacity within the IPAS system. These circumstances stemmed from ‘unforeseeable’ and ‘unprecedented’ events which arose, including the influx of Ukrainian refugees, as well as a large increase in the number of international protection applicants in the state. The State submitted that it has used the ‘greater part’ of available resources to find solutions and that Ireland was not unique in experiencing difficulties in providing accommodation as this difficulty persisted throughout the European Union. The applicant’s cases were test cases for a group of 50 similar cases.

In assessing the claim for damages and the force majeure claim, the High Court first examined the Francovich test, which establishes the requirements for damages to be awarded against a State for breach of EU law. Ferriter J. recalled that if damages were to be awarded for a breach, the relevant provision must have been intended to confer rights on individuals, the breach must be sufficiently serious and there must be a direct causal link to the State’s obligations and the damages sustained. The applicants claimed that the test had been met, whereas the State sought to claim a defence of a situation of force majeure.

The Court reviewed EU case law on situations of force majeure and stated that same can be understood differently depending upon the legal context in which it operates. The case law is nevertheless consistent in the requirement that force majeure can only arise in relation to an abnormal and unforeseeable circumstances outside the control of the party seeking to rely on the defence. There were nonetheless some differences in the expression of the precise limits of the defence, and generally, the CJEU has taken a strict approach to the availability of the defence. Giving judgment, Ferriter J. recognised that the Reception Conditions Directive does not expressly provide for a defence of force majeure whereby a State fails to provide material reception conditions. The provision of such conditions are mandatory in nature. Even whereby such a defence were available, the question remained as to whether it was available whereby inviolable rights pursuant to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU are concerned, in this case, Article 1 of the Charter relating to human dignity. Moreover, the Court recognised the parameters for such a defence were unclear. On this basis, it was held that the situation was not acte claire in EU law. Proceedings were thus stayed in order to make a reference to the Courts of Justice of the European Union.[89]

• Dublin transfers: AC v. The International Protection Appeals Tribunal & Ors [2024] IEHC 77. Giving judgment in the case of AC v. The International Protection Appeals Tribunal & Ors, a case concerning the proposed return of an applicant to Spain pursuant to the Dublin III, Hyland J. noted that despite the large amount of litigation which Article 17 of the Dublin III Regulation had generated, and the numerous judicial observations made regarding the lack of any appeals procedure, it appeared that the position had not altered. It remained the case, according to the Judge, that no guidelines existed for applicants as to when they ought to make a request pursuant to Art 17, how to make such a request, the criteria to be considered in determining such a request, or the timeframe in which such a request ought to be decided. The judge further noted that ‘given that there is a bifurcated system, it is surprising that the Minister has not identified how the two systems should operate in harmony to avoid undermining the aims of the Dublin III Regulation insofar as transfers are concerned.’[90]
• Citizenship: R.I. (A Minor Suing by his Mother and Next Friend L.B) v. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Justice [2024] IEHC 86. The case concerned a three year old child born in Ireland in September of 2019, to a mother who holds subsidiary protection status. In August 2021, the applicant’s mother applied for an Irish passport on behalf of her child. Section 6A(1) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 states that a person born on the island of Ireland “shall not be entitled”to Irish citizenship unless their parent has, during the four years immediately preceding the birth, a period of reckonable residence of not less than three years. However, Section 6A(2)(d)(i) qualifies that s.6(A)(1) does not apply to a child born in Ireland if one parent is entitled to reside in the State “without any restriction” on their residence. As the mother is a subsidiary protection holder, it was argued that she fell within this subsection of persons who are entitled to reside in the State without any restriction on their period of residence and therefore, the child would be entitled to Irish citizenship by birth, even though the mother had less than three years’ reckonable residence in the four years immediately prior to the child’s birth. The child’s application for an Irish passport was refused on the on the basis that s.6A (2)(d)(i) of the 1956 Act does not apply to a person with subsidiary protection. The Applicant, by his mother, challenged this decision by way of Judicial Review proceedings in the High Court. It was argued that the mother is entitled to reside in the state without restriction, as her permission “shall” be renewable, and it is thus not in any way restricted. Giving judgment, Bolger J. concluded that it was open to the Minister for Foreign Affairs to conclude that the child did not meet the requirements for an Irish passport on the basis that subsidiary protection was a restricted residence. The boy was refused a passport on the basis that a subsection of section 6A(1) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act of 1956 does not cover people with subsidiary protection as they are not entitled to reside in the State without any restriction on their period of residence. Bolger J. stated that although the law states that the subsidiary protection permission “shall be renewable”, its renewal is in fact conditional; firstly on the continuation of the circumstances that justified the grant of subsidiary protection in the first place, and secondly on there being no compelling reasons of national security or public order.[91]

Temporary protection

The information given hereafter constitute a short summary of the Annex on Temporary Protection for this report, for further information, see Annex on Temporary Protection.

Temporary protection procedure

• Key statistics: As of 4 February 2024, 104,870 individuals had registered for temporary protection in Ireland since 4 March 2022.^[92] Women and men, aged 20 and over, made up 46% and 23% respectively of arrivals to date, while 31% were people aged under 20.

As of 14^th April 2024, 49,595 beneficiaries of temporary protection were residing in state-provided accommodation.^[93] The number of beneficiaries staying in private accommodation arrangements as of 14^th April 2024 was 18,352.^[94]

As of the 4^th of April 2024, 18,182 individuals had accessed the labour market.^[95] As of February 2024, there were 18,185 Ukrainian students enrolled in primary and secondary education in Ireland. Of these, 11,312 were enrolled in primary education and 6,873 enrolled in secondary education.^[96] There were 17,310 arrivals enrolled in further education and training courses on 01 February 2024, of which 14,186 were enrolled in further education English language courses.[97]

Content of temporary protection

• Revised Accommodation Protocol: In March 2024, in response to a shortage in available accommodation, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, announced changes to the accommodation of newly arrived beneficiaries of temporary protection. Legislation was introduced pursuant to the Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024, in order to give effect to these changes.^[98] Under the revised approach, anyone who registers for temporary protection in the State and seeks state-provided accommodation, will be accommodated by IPAS for a maximum period of 90-days. During this period, beneficiaries of Temporary Protection will be provided with food, laundry, other services, and integration supports in Designated Accommodation Centres. At present six accommodation centres have been identified as ‘Designated Accommodation Centres’ and these centres are located throughout the country. Accommodation comprises of tents, modular buildings and large halls. While living at designated centres, there will be a focus on orientation with regard to living and working in Ireland, as well as options for sourcing accommodation independently or through pledged or hosted accommodation.^[99] Following 90 days, applicants must leave the designated accommodation and will not be permitted to return. Applicants are required to source independent accommodation in the community and will continue to be permitted to access rent supplement, however, cannot apply for Housing Assistance Payment or access homeless services. Applicants may also continue to access pledged accommodation or hosting arrangements.^[100] Applicants will also have access to education, health services and employment support while resident in designated centres, however, whereby children require access to primary and secondary education, it is advised that school places are sought only when children move to longer term accommodation. Vulnerable residents, residents with small children or residents who are pregnant will have access to family units.^[101]
• Reduction in social welfare payment: Social welfare payments are reduced under the revised arrangements. Previously, beneficiaries of Temporary Protection living in state-provided accommodation were entitled to social welfare supports equivalent to those available to Irish citizens. However, under the revised accommodation arrangements, a weekly allowance of €38.80 per adult and € 29.80 per child is provided to residents while accommodated in designated centres. Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection remain entitled to child benefit payment (€ 140.00 per child per month). Whereby an individual subsequently leaves the designated centre, or whereby they make their own accommodation arrangements on arrival, they will be entitled to apply for social welfare assistance, equivalent to that which is offered to Irish citizens, subject to meeting the requisite eligibility conditions.^[102]

[1] Minister for Justice, Response to Parliamentary Question No 1104, 17 January 2024, available at: https://bit.ly/4biVhlI.

[2] Information provided by IPO, April 2024.

[3] ibid.

[4] ibid

[5] ibid.

[6] Minister for Justice, Response to Parliamentary Question No 587, 12 December 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3SlSobw

[7] Information provided by IPO, April 2024.

[8] Department of Justice, ‘Minister McEntee secures approval from Government to in to masures of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, 27 March 2024, available at: https://tinyurl.com/yc38fb7y.

[9]Irish Refugee Council, ‘Briefing paper to Oireachtas Justice Committee members on the EU Migration and Asylum Pact’, 19 April 2024, available: https://tinyurl.com/3jzyjwue.

[10] Information provided by IPO, January 2024.

[11] Information provided by IPO, April 2024.

[12] International Protection Office, March 2023.

[13] Information provided by International Protection Office, April 2024.

[14] Information provided by IPO, April 2024.

[15] Advisory Group on Direct Provision, Report of the Advisory Group on the Provision of Support including Accommodation to Persons in the International Protection Process, 21 October 2020, available at: https://bit.ly/3qgSmC3/.

[16] Minister for Justice, Response to Parliamentary Question No 587, 12 December 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3SlSobw.

[17] The Journal, ‘Taoiseach says Govt will be examining tougher border controls to prevent illegal immigration’, 11 January 2023, available at: https://rb.gy/fuekgh.

[18] Irish Examiner, ‘Gardaí to travel to international airports to check refugee documents’, 6 February 2023, available at: https://rb.gy/5h7o79.

[19] Information provided by the International Protection Appeals Tribunal, January 2024.

[20] ibid.

[21] Minister for Justice, Response to Parliamnetary Question No 385, 14 December 2023, available at:

[22] Information provided by the International Protection Appeals Tribunal, January 2024.

[23] Information provided by Irish Refugee Council Information and Advocacy Service, January 2024.

[24] ibid.

[25] Email response from International Protection Office, 23 April 2023.

[26] The Journal, ‘Irish officials to review ‘safe countries of origin’ designation on 8 nations within next year’, 3 June 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/2jhz2r6m.

[27] Section 72, IPA 2015.

[28] Department of Justice, ‘Minister McEntee announces new measures to expedite international protection application processing’, 30 January 2024, available at: https://bit.ly/3vODsLA.  

[29] Breakingnews.ie, ‘Safe countries list update aimed at deterring economic migration – McEntee’, 30 January 2024, available at: https://tinyurl.com/4a9h4fk6.

[30] Department of Justice, ‘Minister McEntee publishes International Protection Modernisation Strategy’, 5 July 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/4xnyejv5.

[31] ibid.

[32] Information provided by Irish Refugee Council Independent Law Centre, January 2024.

[33] Information provided by Tusla, April 2023.

[34] Irish Times, ‘’Unprecedented’ increase in unaccompanied children seeking asylum in Ireland’, 15 January 2024, available at: https://bit.ly/3SHzw7S.

[35] Irish Examiner, ‘280 unaccompanied children have sought international protection this year’, 14 October 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3SDAMsT.

[36] ibid.

[37] Irish Times, ‘’Unprecedented’ increase in unaccompanied children seeking asylum in Ireland’, 15 January 2024, available at: https://bit.ly/3SHzw7S.

[38] ibid.

[39] Irish Times, ‘Government concern over ‘formalised’ emergency Tusla accommodation’, 9 October 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3SpiFp.

[40] ibid.

[41] ibid.

[42] ibid.

[43] Irish Times, ‘’Unprecedented’ increase in unaccompanied children seeking asylum in Ireland’, 15 Jan 2024, available at: https://bit.ly/3SHzw7S.

[44] The Journal, ‘Over 60 Migrant Children Missing from State Care’, 14 December 2023, available at:  https://bit.ly/3SGYxQT.

[45] ibid.

[46] Information provided by Irish Refugee Council Information and Advocacy Service, January 2024.

[47] Minister for Justice, Response to Parliamentary Question No 333, 14^th November 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3Oq7jjr.

[48] Information provided by Irish Refugee Council Information and Advocacy Service, January 2024.

[49] Minister for Justice, Response to Parliamentary Question No 370, 10^th October 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3w8IOAY.

[50] Information provided by Irish Refugee Council Policy Officer, January 2024.

[51] Minister for Justice, Response to Parliamentary Question No 1084, 17^th January 2024, available at: https://bit.ly/3SITZJO.          

[52] Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, ‘Statistics on International Protection Applicants not offered accommodation’, 12^th December 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3SrOCgx.

[53] Information provided by Irish Refugee Council Information and Advocacy Service, January 2024.

[54] ibid.

[55] Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, ‘Statistics on International Protection Applicants not offered accommodation’, 12^th December 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3SrOCgx.

[56] Information provided by Irish Refugee Council Information and Advocacy Service, January 2024.

[57] Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, ‘Statistics on international Protection Applicants not Offered Accommodation’, 14^th May 2024, available at: https://tinyurl.com/4a8tsnab.

[58] Information provided by Irish Refugee Council Information and Advocacy Service, January 2024.

[59] S.Y. (A minor suing by his next friend Aoife Dare) v. Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth & Ors.  [2023] 175 JR, available at: https://bit.ly/3w6USmy.

[60] Irish Times, ‘Army camp in Co Wicklow being used to house asylum seekers’, 28^th January 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3SlZ5di.

[61] Information provided by Irish Refugee Council Information and Advocacy Service, January 2024. 

[62] ibid.

[63] Information provided by Irish Refugee Council’s Policy and Advocacy Officer.

[64] ibid.

[65] RTÉ, ‘Columb Barracks to be used for temporary refugee accommodation’, 1 February 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3YmGteH.

[66] Irish Times, ‘Asylum seekers to be housed in tents at former Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum’, 8^th June 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3SOidlO.

[67] Information provided by IPAS, January 2023.

[68] Information provided by Irish Refugee Council Information and Advocacy Service, January 2024.

[69] Information provided by IPAS, January 2024.

[70] Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman, Response to Parliamentary Question No 80, 31 July 2021, available at: https://bit.ly/3Jnok9W.

[71] Information provided by IPAS, December 2022.

[72] Information provided by IPAS, March 2024.

[73] HIQA, ‘International Protection Accommodation’, January 2024, available at: https://bit.ly/49pGe8b.

[74] HIQA, ‘HIQA publishes first inspection reports on International Protection Accommodation Service centres’, 18 April 2024, available at: https://tinyurl.com/4rjb6ym6.

[75] HIQA, ‘International Protection Accommodation’, January 2024, available at: https://bit.ly/49pGe8b.y

[76] Labour Market Access Unit, ‘Labour Market Access Permission’, available at: https://tinyurl.com/2p9ta6xy.

[77] Information provided by Irish Refugee Council Information and Advocacy Service, February 2024.

[78] Information provided by Irish Refugee Council Policy Officer, February 2024.

[79] ibid.

[80] Minister for Justice and Equality, Response to Parliamentary Question No. 1076, 17 January 2024, available at: https://bit.ly/3TVI62n.

[81] Minister for Justice and Equality, Response to Parliamentary Question No. 796, 20 March 2024, available at: https://tinyurl.com/yvrdvvyw

[82] Information provided by Irish Refugee Council Housing Officer, February 2024.

[83] The Journal, ‘Just 27 properties available to rent within HAP discretionary rate last month, report shows’, 25^th October 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/y2cyjj48.

[84] Information provided by Irish Refugee Council Housing Officer, February 2024.

[85] Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Response to Parliamentary Question No. 705, 12^th December 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/bdcvun7f.

[86] S.Y. (A minor suing by his next friend Aoife Dare) v. Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth & Ors.  [2023] 175 JR, available at: https://bit.ly/3w6USmy.

[87] A (A Minor) v. International Protection Appeals Tribunal (Labour Market Access) [2023] IEHC 141, available at: https://tinyurl.com/4bjsbr4n.

[88] T (Russian Federation) v. International Protection Appeals Tribunal [2023] IEHC 271, available at: https://tinyurl.com/ym38t6s9.

[89]  A and R.J v Minister of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Ireland and the Attorney General [2023] IEHC 717, available at: https://tinyurl.com/4cxzuz6j.

[90] AC v. The International Protection Appeals Tribunal & Ors [2024] IEHC 77, 12 February 2024, available at: https://tinyurl.com/ytytw64u.

[91] T.R.I. (A Minor Suing by his Mother and Next Friend L.B) v. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Justice [2024] IEHC 96, available at: https://tinyurl.com/hz569f9d.

[92] Central Statistics Office, ‘Arrivals from Ukraine in Ireland Series 12, 4 February 2024, available at: https://tinyurl.com/2r53f25n.

[93] Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, ‘Accommodation of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection – Weekly Statistics’, 15 April 2024, available at: https://tinyurl.com/bdrypvkf.

[93] Central Statistics Office, ‘Arrivals from Ukraine in Ireland Series 12, 4 February 2024, available at: https://tinyurl.com/2r53f25n. 

[94] ibid.

Note: This figure includes both persons who have moved into pledged accommodation, as well as those who have moved into Offer a Home scheme accommodation.

[95] Central Statistics Office, ‘Arrivals in Ireland Series 12, 4 February 2024, available at: https://tinyurl.com/2r53f25n.

[96] Central Statistics Office, ‘Arrivals in Ireland Series 12, 4 February 2024, available at: https://tinyurl.com/2r53f25n.

[97] ibid.

[98] Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024, s.11, available at: https://tinyurl.com/567z7pnm.

[99] Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, ‘Changes to Accommodation for People Fleeing War in Ukraine’, 13 March 2024, available at: https://tinyurl.com/44wyeshh.

[100] Information provided by Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, 7th March 2024.

[101] Information provided by Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, 7th March 2024.

[102] Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, ‘Changes to Accommodation for People Fleeing War in Ukraine’, 13 March 2024, available at: https://tinyurl.com/44wyeshh.