Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 October 2017
4. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of refugees expected to arrive here by the end of 2017 in accordance with the EU relocation programme developed in response to the Syrian refugee crisis; the locations of those who have already arrived; and his plans to settle these refugees around the country. [44534/17]
View answerQuestions were taken more quickly than I thought they would be, but I appreciate being able to ask this one. It arises from a concern I have about Syrian refugees based in Greece who have looked to be assigned in Ireland and who have been told that they cannot come here because we do not have accommodation. I know that refugees here are in welcoming centres, but they have been in them for too long and need to be located in the community. I ask the Minister for an update on where we stand in meeting our targets and speeding up the process to bring people here.
The Deputy is referring to Ireland's stated commitments on relocation under the resettlement programme. To date, 1,406 persons have arrived in Ireland under the relocation and resettlement strands of the EU relocation programme. I expect a further 738 to have arrived in Ireland under both programmes by early 2018. Under the relocation programme, Ireland has pledged to accept 1,089 asylum seekers from Greece. Ireland was the only EU country that chose voluntarily to participate in the programme. It will meet its full commitment to Greece. Some 621 persons of the allocation of 1,089 are already in the State and a further 390 have been assessed and are awaiting transportation from Greece. By early 2018, we will have admitted our entire cohort from Greece under the relocation programme.
Under the resettlement strand, refugees located in countries such as Lebanon are brought directly to Ireland with the help of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR. Ireland originally pledged to resettle 520 refugees, double the amount the European Commission had proposed for Ireland, and we subsequently voluntarily doubled that number again. I recently announced that our overall pledge would increase again, to 1,385. Some 785 of these refugees are already in the State building new lives. On the current locations of those who have already arrived, 602 persons are housed in emergency reception and orientation centres. A total of 797 persons have been settled in 14 counties nationwide - Clare, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Leitrim, Louth, Limerick, Mayo, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Westmeath and Wexford.
The Minister mentioned the progress made in bringing people here from Greece and Lebanon. Will he update us on the position in bringing refugees here from Italy? I know from the replies to previous questions that the former Minister had articulated a concern that the nature of our relationship and work with the Italian authorities had slowed down the arrival of refugees. Will the Minister provide an update of how that section of refugees have been catered for under the programme?
The numbers the Minister has given are interesting. Some 602 persons are in emergency reception centres, while 709 have been resettled. Is the Minister happy with these figures? Having visited some centres, I am concerned that the time taken to get people from resettlement centres into the community has been longer than the ideal and that while the centres are doing a good job and the people running them are doing their best, support services in providing language training and for orientation have not been as rigorous and as intensive as they should be. Will the Minister update me on whether he is happy with how the emergency centres are working and the speed at which people are being settled in the community?
The Deputy asked a number of questions in a short period. There are 602 refugees living in four reception centres in counties Kildare, Roscommon and Louth in which they receive orientation support. They also receive integration and language training support while waiting for housing to be sourced. I agree with the Deputy that it is important that there be no undue delay in the transfer of refugees from reception centres to long-term housing in both urban and rural settings throughout the country and that the full range of services should be available to them while awaiting relocation to ensure their other needs are met.
As the Deputy may be aware, the programme was slow to become operational in the case of refugees from both Greece and Italy. This gave rise to delays earlier this year. National security is, of course, a competency that remains the sole preserve of each individual member state. Ireland already had arrangements in place to allow members of An Garda Síochána to travel to Greece to interview refugees who had been assigned to Ireland. However, the position was not the same in Italy where, for various reasons, there were difficulties in allowing police officers from member states to carry out this important function on Italian soil. The IRPP is working actively and positively to bring as many refugees from Greece as possible here by the end of the year. This, of course, is dependent on a number of factors, including the provision of housing by local authorities for persons currently in reception centres. There is the full and active engagement of the appropriate agencies involved.
This is my last question. I will go back to the Department about what is happening in Italy. On how we will reallocate refugees into local communities, it is my understanding the reallocation will be towards areas there there is not a large social housing waiting list, which makes sense. By definition, it is likely that these communities or towns are not exactly thriving, not the busiest or most popular. Is the Minister looking at the integration of refugees from the point of view of completely turning around these towns, not merely from the point of view of supporting the refugees, in order that they will not feel they are dumping grounds with the least successful towns ending up taking refugees? If we were to invest in the towns at the same time, it might change the whole attitude to how the programme works. Would the Minister support such an initiative?
We are way over time on this question. The Minister to reply briefly.
Let me make it quite clear that I would reject strongly any assertion that locations might be chosen in circumstances which might give rise to the label of "dumping ground" which I think were the words the Deputy used.
They were the wrong words to use; I take them back.
I understand the Deputy spoke in good faith, however cumbersomely the message was conveyed. I acknowledge the work of the agencies involved. I also acknowledge the work of voluntary bodies throughout the country and the work of the Red Cross. There are pledges from around the country. There are many towns which are offering refugees not only shelter but also a new and positive way of life. The Deputy will be aware that Dublin will not be used in the resettlement programme, unless there are essential and specific needs that cannot be met elsewhere. Certainly, from my experience of speaking to community leaders, for example, in Ballaghadereen, on the border between County Mayo and County Roscommon, there are challenges. However, I am pleased to say these challenges are being met head-on by dint of the welcome received and a large measure of local leadership, as well as by the State agencies, be they in the areas of health, education, sport and recreation, the arts and culture. People are ready to assist in order to ensure the stay of refugees in the commencement of their new lives in rural Ireland will be as comfortable and as welcoming as possible.
I ask Members to stick to the time limits. On this question we went over time by two and a half minutes.
