597. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of applications received to the 2025 Humanitarian Admission Programme; the number of applications that have been approved; the number refused; the number of persons who have arrived in Ireland to date in 2025 under the programme; his plans to increase the number of spaces on the programme beyond the promised 50, given the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, and in particular the deepening women's rights crisis (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56976/25]

Between 2021 and 2024, Ireland supported more than 700 people to move to Ireland from Afghanistan through the Irish Refugee Protection Programme.

This work continues through the Humanitarian Admissions Programme, prioritising at-risk individuals such as human rights defenders, women’s rights activists, LGBTQ+ individuals, judiciary and journalists.

For 2025, The Open Community has been appointed to administer the programme, supporting the admission of 50 individuals through a community sponsorship (CS) framework.

The 2025 Humanitarian Admissions Programme was divided into two phases and the table below sets out the position in relation to the applications received by my Department under Phase 1 of the Programme.

Applications received under Phase 2 of the Programme are currently under consideration. It is planned to complete the balance of the 50 pledged arrivals under this Programme before the end of 2025.

Humanitarian Admission Programme 2025 as at 17th October 2025

At this time, there are no plans in place to increase the number of spaces available under this Programme.