RIA's AC12 Role
The Reception and Integration Agency’s role in assisting with the return of destitute citizens of certain EU States derives from a Government decision of 2 March, 2004 which directed that the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform support the return of destitute nationals from the 10 States which joined the EU in May, 2004 (the Accession States) on an agency basis for the Department of Social Protection. This was later extended, on an administrative basis, to include the 2 States which joined in January, 2007 (Romania and Bulgaria). This function was introduced in the context of the introduction, with effect from 1 May 2004, of an Habitual Residency Condition in relation to access to social welfare payments. This condition applies to all applicants for such payments and is not confined to European Union citizens.
The protocol for determination of destitution and referral for repatriation involves the Department of Social Protection (and its agents) and the Reception and Integration Agency. The RIA does not itself determine whether the EU citizen is destitute. Individuals are assessed and referred to RIA, in the main, by the Asylum Seeker and New Communities Unit (ASNCU) of the HSE (Community Welfare Service) in Gardiner Street. The ASNCU deals with all non-Irish nationals who are not proper to local their Community Welfare Services seeking in the former ERHA functional area. Referrals can be made from local community welfare officers and employment exchanges around the country, but this is rare.
Referrals to RIA are made on an out-of-hours basis through the Homeless Persons Unit (HPU) and from Garda Stations (particularly Store Street and Pearse Street Stations). The HPU is part of the Dublin City Council out-of-hours homeless services operated, on an agency basis, by the HSE. Any persons referred to RIA for the purpose of AC12 repatriations through the HPU or Gardaí are referred to the ASNCU on the next working day for assessment of destitution and referred back to RIA if assessed as destitute and if willing to return home.
RIA does not accept direct referrals from Embassies, third party or NGO groups, or by individuals themselves.
The role of RIA under this scheme is to provide voluntary transport back to their home State for destitute AC12 nationals. If absolutely necessary, and subject to availability of accommodation, RIA will accommodate the person(s) concerned for one or two nights in its designated Dublin centre and provide them with transport home as soon as practicable. Those who have previously availed of the scheme will not be repatriated a second time, while those who fail to take a flight arranged for them will not be offered a second flight.
RIA does not have responsibility for housing homeless non-Irish nationals.
RIA AC12 Annual Statistics 2010 (PDF - 24KB)
RIA AC12 Annual Statistics 2009 (PDF - 24KB)