Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 February 2024
445. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 461 of 30 January 2024, if he will list the eight local authorities which currently have LAITs in place. [5331/24]
View answerIndividual Local Authorities are actively engaged in the recruitment process for the Local Authority Integration Teams (LAITs). While recruitment and on-boarding is still active across the majority of the Local Authorities, it is predicted that there will be a certain amount of personnel movement. As a result, which Local Authorities which have their teams fully in place is not static. Currently eight Local Authorities have their full teams in place:
• Clare County Council
• Kilkenny County Council
• Laois County Council
• Louth County Council
• Meath County Council
• Waterford City and County Council
• Wexford County Council
• Wicklow County Council
All the Local Authorities have engaged with the process, the majority have held interviews and almost all have, at a minimum, advertised the posts.
The role of the teams is to provide ongoing integration supports to International Protection applicants, Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, and Programme Refugees and to better help them engage with existing local services. The role also includes:
• Providing information, advice and guidance to individuals.
• Linking individuals with mainstream and NGO services.
• Identifying gaps in supports or services.
The role of the LAITs is not intended to replace existing service provision but to facilitate and support accessing services.
