Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 April 2022
83. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her views on the use of community centres to accommodate Ukrainian refugees and the impact that this will have on service users and on communities at large; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17921/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is contributing to the effort by linking with key stakeholders at community level, providing information, assisting the co-ordination of supports through the community sector, and enabling flexibility in programme delivery to shift focus on the Ukraine response.
My Department also held a webinar recently with relevant stakeholders and organisations involved in the Ukraine response. The aim of the webinar was to provide as much information as possible to stakeholders on the national response and encourage and support co-ordination of responses being provided by stakeholders, while also seeking to ensure complementarity with relevant national and local government initiatives and provide central Department contact points for issues and queries.
New Community Response Fora are also being repurposed in each local authority area. These will enable all those involved at a local level to work together to support the integration of Ukrainian refugees. The role of each Forum will be to coordinate the community-led response in the provision of assistance and support to Ukrainian refugees as they are accommodated around the country.
Ukrainian arrivals in to the country who are seeking accommodation are being accommodated through the International Protection Accommodation Service. My Department will continue to liaise with them and offer any assistance we can – this is a fluid situation which will require a flexible approach.
The response to COVID-19 showed what we can achieve by working together: national government, local government, and community, voluntary and local development sectors. My Department is coordinating with all our stakeholders, including Local Development Companies, LCDCs, Volunteer Centres, Community Volunteers, and Public Participation Networks, to maximise the effectiveness of the response.
