Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 December 2022
210. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding available to local authorities to support the community response forum in each area to coordinate local measures welcoming Ukrainians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59983/22]
View answerOn 31 March 2022, my colleague, Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development, and I wrote to the chief executives of the local authorities welcoming the establishment of Community Response Forums in every local authority area to coordinate the community-led response in the provision of assistance and support to those arriving into our communities having fled the conflict in Ukraine.
My Department has supported and continues to support the co-ordination of the local response by requesting that each Local Authority identifies a lead Director of Service or equivalent level who could be dedicated to coordinating the local response on a full-time basis supported by a temporary support team. These dedicated resources, which differ across the country depending on the local authority need, are funded by my Department and work as part of the Community Response Forum and also lead the co-ordination of the provision of supports and services to Ukrainians locally.
