Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Apr 2000

Vol. 518 No. 2

Written Answers. - Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.

John Bruton

Question:

119 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which the Government will fulfil the commitment in paragraph 3.12.33 of framework III of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness to introduce a comprehensive strategy for the integration of refugees, including employment and training issues; the timetable for the publication of this strategy; if budgetary provision will be made in the Estimates for 2001; and, if so, the extent in this regard. [8715/00]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The report of the interdepartmental working group on the integration of refugees in Ireland will form the basis for implementation of the commitment in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness to which the Deputy refers.

In November 1998 I established an interdepartmental working group to examine the best means of integrating recognised refugees and others granted permission to remain in Ireland. The group's report was launched on 10 February 2000 and I have welcomed its findings. The Government has accepted my recommendation that the report should form the framework for Government policy on refugee integration.

The report makes a number of recommendations and it is my intention that these will be implemented without delay. Progress has already been made. The introduction of a single organisational structure for co-ordinating and implementing integration policy is one of the key recommendations of the working group and last month the Government approved my proposals for an appropriate organisational structure. A statutory agency to be called the reception and integration agency is to be established under the aegis of my Department to plan and co-ordinate the provision of services for both asylum seekers and refugees. It will also co-ordinate implementation of integration policy for refugees and persons who, though not refugees, are granted leave to remain. Pending the enactment of legislation, the agency will operate on a non-statutory basis.

The interdepartmental working group also recommended the conduct of research to obtain information on the specific needs of refugees. The report states that there may be issues refugees have to deal with on a daily basis and which have not yet been identified. The working group rightly points out that further research, involving an input from refugees, is required before comprehensive measures to respond to need can be developed. In this regard, I will be commissioning a research project with a view to the development of a comprehensive strategy for integration. This strategy will identify in further detail the scope to maximise existing resources in both the State and voluntary sectors to facilitate integration.

Another recommendation relates to public awareness. The interdepartmental working group has recommended that the National Consultative Council for Racism and Interculturalism – NCCRI – should have a central role in co-ordinating public awareness initiatives and in disseminating information on anti-racism issues and respect for cultural diversity generally. The Government has agreed that the NCCRI will undertake an evaluation of how public opinion can be better informed with a view to promoting a tolerant, inclusive society. This evaluation will be completed in a short timeframe and I intend to bring proposals for comprehensive public awareness initiatives to Government before the summer.

The report also points out that while mainstream services are equally available to Irish citizens and refugees, they are not always equally accessible. This is because refugees lack knowledge about Irish society and systems that operate here. They also have language difficulties which can hinder participation in education, training and employment. The report makes many useful suggestions for intervention to bridge this gap, for example, the provision of support at the initial stages of integration, comprehensive information and interpretation services and training of service providers. All of these recommendations will be examined in consultation with the relevant State agencies and implemented as early as possible.

When the research, referred to above, aimed at developing a comprehensive strategy has been concluded I will be in a better position to fully cost the necessary initiatives for refugee integration. As already stated, however, the strategy will examine the scope to maximise the use of existing resources. The question of budgetary provision for next year will be examined in the usual way in the context of the Estimates exercise for 2001.