Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 May 2023
143. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the plans sent to his Department by the Minister of State with responsibility for integration to recruit a team for community engagement and outreach in relation to the placement of asylum seekers. [24846/23]
View answerMore than 100,000 people from Ukraine and asylum seekers have arrived in recent times with over 84,000 successfully accommodated, but the ongoing situation is very challenging. Listening to and communicating with local communities is essential as new accommodation centres are opened. The Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Children, Equality, Diversity, Integration and Youth and other Departments are working together in the development of a more effective method of sharing information with communities. The work is nearing completion, a tender has been issued for additional supports for this work and is currently being reviewed.
The new arrangements will include any practices already in place which are working well and will also work with existing networks where possible to maximise effectiveness. These new arrangements do not preclude the expansion of existing arrangements by the relevant departments where considered appropriate.
