Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 February 2024
516. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he and his Department have allocated more money to assist with the communications on migration and integration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8072/24]
View answerIreland is currently accommodating more than 101,000 people seeking safety and shelter, between people fleeing war in Ukraine and International Protection (IP) applicants.
Under the Recast Reception Conditions Directive (SI 230 of 2018), the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) is legally required to provide accommodation to IP applicants who seek it while their claim for international protection is being determined.
Department officials are working to bring more bed spaces into use. For context, at the end of January 2022 IPAS had 8,300 bed spaces in use; it now has approximately 26,000 beds in use. This does not account for further beds that had been provided to IP applicants in the interim in hotels that have since returned these beds to tourism.
This is a nationwide urgent situation and emergency centres have been opened in all parts of the country. All counties in Ireland are providing help and assistance with this. There have been over 200 accommodation locations utilised since January 2022 across 26 counties.
The accommodation of International Protection (IP) applicants is a demand-led process with applicants arriving in the country and seeking accommodation spontaneously.
A Community Engagement Team (CET) has been established to engage directly with elected representatives, relevant Local Authorities, Local Development Companies, and other entities and individuals.
To date, the CET have issued 54 briefing documents ahead of new accommodation centres opening in communities. The CET has been developed to improve the flow of information regarding arrivals into areas and to help equip local communities with the accurate information required to help them understand the current situation and to assist with the welcome and integration process for new arrivals.
In addition to the work of the CET on the ground, DCEDIY has received over 100 Parliamentary Questions (PQs) and 180 media queries since the beginning of 2024 with respect to the work of the International Protection and Integration Division.
As well as the teams working on CET and answering queries, there is a small allocation of budget funding dedicated to Communications and Advertising.
