Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Clare Daly. A couple of the questions I wished to ask have now been asked by her.

I have a brief comment to make and a question to ask. The previous justice committee did a great deal of work in this area. I have been a member of the ad hoccommittee on direct provision. The situation in respect of direct provision has certainly been a very shameful for this country. I have always believed that a figure of 4,000 was not enough. During the term of the previous Seanad, I proposed that we should have been prepared to take 40,000 people in and at least give ourselves the option in this regard. Obviously, that is not the Government position and, unfortunately, I do not believe it ever will be.

How are the 230 immigrants who have come already settling in? What practical support structures are in place for them? Are they being facilitated in terms of education and proper integration? How are the children getting on? Are there many children among the 230?

It is great news that there are 120 immigrants coming this side of Christmas. My concern is that the necessary support structures are not in place to deal with those who are coming. I hope that we will achieve a great deal more in this regard in 2017. I welcome the fact that there has been an extension of an invitation to people who have been in Calais who may have names of people who want to come to Ireland. That is the type of engagement we need.

How have the people who came here in recent months settled? What support structures are in place for them? What are the lead agencies involved? Is the Minister of State's Department the lead agency? Are local authorities lead agencies? How is the system working? What is the practical structure? I apologise for the fact that I will not be here to hear the answer but I will obtain it from the report of proceedings later.