The Community Sponsorship Ireland model began as a pilot scheme in December 2018. Following this successful pilot, the Government launched the initiative nationally as a mainstream programme in 2019.
Since then, 32 families have settled across a number of different rural and urban communities throughout Ireland.
As the Deputy is aware, Community Sponsorship Ireland (CSI) is an alternative resettlement stream to the traditional State-centred model. The model seeks to allow groups in a community setting to support refugees arriving in a Community Sponsorship Group (CSG). This is an essential part of the Government's overall resettlement programme.
Under the Programme, there are four Regional Support Organisations (RSOs) that have the role to oversee the recruitment, support, coordination and training of Community Sponsorship groups across 7 regions throughout Ireland and to promote Community Sponsorship at a local level. These ROSs are supported through exchequer and European Unions Asylum, Migration and Integration Funds
In advance of the placement of a family, Community Sponsorship Groups (CSGs) are required to demonstrate that they have a minimum of €10,000 on hand to support the sponsored family, of which a maximum of €2,000 may be in-kind contributions (e.g. a commitment given to provide professional interpretation services, English classes, childcare etc. free of charge). Groups are required to raise funds to demonstrate commitment, support the implementation of their settlement plan and cater for unexpected eventualities.
Given the community based focus of the programme, there are no plans on behalf of the Government to replace the well established and workable community fundraising opportunities that the programme provides.
I have no doubt that Community Sponsorship will continue to be an important strand in the resettlement of refugees and their integration into Irish communities.
