Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have accelerated the intake from Lebanon under the resettlement programme and more than 1,000 people will have arrived here from the refugee camps by the end of the year. We took 520 extra. Due to the slowdown on the other area of relocation we took more people from the refugee camps to increase the numbers. We continue to be flexible in terms of trying to respond to the need that exists and to meet our commitment on the numbers. The Deputy referred to resources. All Departments have committed personnel resources. A stakeholder meeting is chaired by the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, on a regular basis to ensure we respond to the needs of the refugees who are arriving, be they in respect of social protection, health or education. They have complex needs and these must be met. They demand a response not only from the Department of Justice and Equality, and we have put in extra resources, but from all Departments. That is essential.

The current commitment in the resettlement and relocation programme finishes in September or October this year. At that point the European Union will examine the situation again.

See this speech in context