Where do refugees come from? Expand Refugees come from many places across the world. Sometimes the persecution they flee is well known and recognised, for example the war in Syria. For others, their plight is not so widely known, or the persecution they face is more personal – e.g. because of your sexuality or gender. There is often a misunderstanding that refugees are only born of war and conflict. The reality is there are many reasons why a person may become a refugee.
Refugee Expand A refugee is anyone who cannot return to their country for fear of persecution for one of the following five reasons: Race – including ethnicity Religion – in some countries having no religion is viewed as badly as being of the ‘wrong’ religion Nationality Membership of a particular social group – this can include things like membership of a trade union, your gender (i.e. male or female), your sexual orientation Political opinion – this does not simply mean that you have to be a member of a political party, but if you have any political opinions, or even if people think you do. Refugees are entitled to be protected against forcible return to their countries of origin.
How do people seeking asylum in Ireland live? Expand While a person’s application is being processed, they are accommodated by the government’s Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) in Direct Provision centres around the country. These centres are a communal style of accommodation, where families are often housed in one room, and single people usually share a room with other single adults, quite often up to four people in one room. Shower and toilet facilities are often shared. Meals are cooked for the residents, and served at a set time each day in a canteen.
Separated Children / Unaccompanied Children Expand Children under 18 years of age, who are outside their country of origin, and separated from both parents and their previous/legal customary primary care giver. Young people who fall into this category are under the care of the Health Service Executive (Tusla) in Ireland.
Do people seeking asylum receive social welfare? Expand While in this process people are not entitled to usual social welfare payments, although they may apply for an exceptional needs payment from the local Community Welfare Officer. People receive a weekly allowance of €29.80 for children and €38.80 for adults. This must cover any additional expenses a person may have. People in this system also receive a medical card.
What is Aging Out? Definition of an aged out minor in the asylum process Expand When an unaccompanied child turns 18 and their application for asylum is still pending they are moved from the care of the state into the Direct Provision system and become known as an “aged out minor”. Visit our policy page on Children and Young People to read more.
Subsidiary Protection Expand Under an EU Directive implemented in Ireland in 2006, a status of subsidiary protection was introduced. If a person is from a third country i.e. outside the E.U. or is stateless and does not qualify as a refugee but does face a real risk of suffering serious harm if returned to his or her country of origin, they are eligible for subsidiary protection.
Can people in the asylum process work? Expand In July 2018 Ireland transposed the European Union which states how people seeking protection should be treated while they wait for their application to be decided. One of the changes made as a result of this law was that people who have waited for more than nine months for their application for protection to be decided can apply for permission to work. To see how other EU member states apply the right to work visit the Asylum and Information Database.
Smuggling Expand Trafficking is not to be confused with people smuggling. Smuggling refers to situations where a person or persons pay someone to be transported to a different country of their own free will. In many cases the person acquiring the services of a smuggler is in a very difficult situation and this may be the only available option to them to access a place of safety or country in which they wish to apply for asylum. In most cases smugglers operate as a business and charge people large sums of money for journeys with no guarantees for their safety or of reaching their intended destination.
Can children who are seeking asylum or recognised as refugees go to school? Expand All children that have been given refugee status are entitled to the same rights as Irish children including the same access to education. Children that are waiting for a decision on their asylum application can attend primary and secondary school, but they are not entitled to free fees for college and must pay non-EU fees which they usually cannot afford. Remember, people seeking asylum receive only €29.80 for children and €38.80 for adults. This must cover any additional expenses a person may have. It would take a long time to save enough for college fees.
Trafficking Expand Trafficking refers to situations where people are moved from place to place or country to country against their will or under duress, by means such as deception, coercion or force, usually for the gains of others, in that the person(s) trafficked will be exploited for financial gain.
How long do people wait in this system? Expand A person who claims asylum today, whose case is not prioritised, will likely wait 19 months for their first substantive interview. Under the old legislation people were spending an average of three – four years in the system.