Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2018
274. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the supports and capacities that will be made available to Leitrim and Roscommon county councils to support the integration of refugees to the proposed refugee centre in Rooskey, County Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46867/18]
View answerIn January and again in September of this year, the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department published a call for expressions of interest in the national press for premises to meet the increasing demand for accommodation for persons in the protection process (asylum seekers). It is worth noting that refugees are persons who have already been granted international protection status in Ireland. This accommodation is for those seeking international protection.
This call sought expressions of interest from parties who may be interested in providing accommodation and related services on an urgent and emergency basis. This was issued in response to the urgent and unforeseen demand for accommodation and related services from those persons arriving in the state seeking international protection.
Following on-site assessments carried out by staff in the Department, the Shannon Key West Hotel in Roosky was, subject to refurbishment work being completed, deemed to be suitable premises for the needs of the Department.
It should be noted that these premises were offered to the Department by individual contractors across the country. The Department did not randomly choose any one location over another location.
The Contractor will be required to set up a 'Friends of the Centre' group as recommended by the McMahon report to facilitate linkages between the residents and the local community to encourage integration. In addition, my Department has granted funding in the order of €43,033 to a number of groups in Roscommon and Leitrim under the Communities Integration fund in 2017 and 2018. In addition, a number of national programmes are funded through the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund that focus on integration measures including funding granted to the Football Association of Ireland, The Immigrant Council of Ireland and the Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland.
With specific regard to both Leitrim and Roscommon County Councils, both local authorities run Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programmes (SICAP). SICAP is co-funded by the Irish Government, through the Department of Rural and Community Development and the European Union's European Social Fund Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020.
My Department will work closely with both local authorities to identify programmes and initiatives to encourage integration measures for the residents of the accommodation centre in Roosky as appropriate.
