Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 April 2022
122. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the actions she is taking to ensure that the large volumes of Ukrainian refugees being accommodated in small communities are supported to achieve the best outcome for those refugees and the communities themselves; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17928/22]
View answerI have witnessed first-hand the great work being done by the community and voluntary sector to welcome new arrivals from the Ukraine. One local development company has welcomed over 200 families and provided them with services such as English language classes, translation services, access to computers, and assistance with setting up bank accounts.
Building on structures developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, new Community Response Fora are also being repurposed in each local authority area. These will enable all those involved at a local level to work together to support the integration of Ukrainian refugees. The role of each Forum will be to coordinate the community-led response in the provision of assistance and support to Ukrainian refugees as they are accommodated around the country.
My own department's Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion intervention. SICAP aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality. It is delivered in both rural and urban areas by Local Development Companies (LDCs) who work with the most disadvantaged and the hardest to reach in communities.
SICAP staff have valuable experience and knowledge of supporting migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in their areas and will continue to ensure the emerging needs of their locality are responded to also. Every flexibility is being offered by the Department in relation to SICAP and approximately 600 Community Development Workers have been tasked with prioritising work around supporting people arriving from the Ukraine into their locality.
