Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 June 2018
114. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the model for resettlement being delivered by the Irish Refugee Protection Programme in the various counties in which it is operational in terms of the number of persons included in a programme; the staffing in terms of refugee resettlement workers and intercultural workers on a programme; and the length of time the programme is in place. [27290/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration (OPMI) is the primary entity within my Department responsible for resettling refugees. It has overseen the humanitarian resettlement programmes run by Ireland since they were established in 2000. The Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) was subsequently established in September 2015 and is now part of the OPMI.
The model for resettlement being used by the IRPP is identical to the model used by the OPMI in resettlements prior to the establishment of the IRPP. This has three broad phases:
1. Overseas selection missions in collaboration with the UNHCR.
2. Placement of refugees in Emergency Response and Orientation Centres (EROCs) for the purposes of acclimatisation, orientation, etc.
3. Settlement in communities in local authority areas, coordinated by an inter-agency working group chaired by the relevant local authority, with refugees supported by an "implementing partner" procured by the local authority. The funding for the implementing partner is provided by the IRPP and the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), both under the auspices of my Department. Local Authorities play a critical role in ensuring the success of each resettlement through the procuring of a suitable implementing partner with expertise in community integration and relevant supports.
The implementation of the resettlement programme requires a high level of coordination among service delivery agencies at both national and local level. Service provision is mainstreamed and all the main statutory service providers such as Government departments, the HSE, Tusla and Local Authorities are represented on the national Taskforce which oversees delivery of the programme. The programme is coordinated overall by the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) but service provision remains the responsibility of the relevant statutory entity.
Once resettled, the implementing partner provides appropriate services for a period of twelve to eighteen months to assist with integration. The standard model is now focussed on an eighteen month period.
The following tables show the position in the counties in which resettlement programmes are underway. As the Deputy will appreciate, the numbers reflect the fact that the programme is a work in progress, with further resettlements planned and personnel yet to be recruited. Some counties will be resettling further refugees as their overall allocation is higher than their initial allocation.
Persons Included in the Resettlement Programme:
|
County |
Initial Agreed Allocation |
Persons Resettled |
|
Galway |
90 |
94 |
|
Mayo |
100 |
134 |
|
Cork |
120 |
116 |
|
Clare |
100 |
89 |
|
Limerick |
100 |
84 |
|
Kerry |
120 |
97 |
|
Leitrim |
50 |
60 |
|
Longford |
60 |
0 |
|
Carlow |
80 |
16 |
|
Roscommon |
90 |
5 |
|
Sligo |
99 |
73 |
|
Westmeath |
140 |
59 |
|
Kilkenny |
140 |
49 |
|
Donegal |
150 |
77 |
|
Wexford |
210 |
196 |
|
Meath |
160 |
33 |
|
Monaghan |
90 |
55 |
|
Waterford |
100 |
93 |
Staffing Levels:
|
County |
Resettlement Workers: Agreed Number |
Resettlement Workers Employed |
Intercultural Support Workers: Agreed Number |
Intercultural Support Workers: Employed |
|
Galway |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
Mayo |
1 |
1 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
|
Cork |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Clare |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
Limerick |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kerry |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Leitrim |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Longford |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Carlow |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Roscommon |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Sligo |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Westmeath |
1 |
1 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
|
Kilkenny |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Donegal |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
Wexford |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
Meath |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Monaghan |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Waterford |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
