Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

They include granting of driving licences to international protection applicants and allowing them to open bank accounts. They are very simple things but they are also very important. Obviously, reducing the period within which someone can apply for work to six months is a very important step.

In terms of supports, we have done a significant amount of work with the counselling in primary care, CPCs, services. My Department has funded CPCs across the country to be able to engage directly with families and children, particularly in international protection accommodation. We have, of course, the international protection integration fund. That is primarily supporting NGOs and community groups undertaking local work to integrate international protection applicants locally. There have been significant advances on the support elements and integration elements. The accommodation element has to be rewritten in terms of the very changed circumstances we are experiencing. Work is ongoing. Even this week, extensive negotiations were taking place in terms of the revised White Paper. I hope to be able to bring it to Cabinet and publish it very shortly.

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