Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In a recent response to a parliamentary question the Minister of State said that 85% of the refugees who arrived in Ireland as part of the relocation and resettlement programmes have been housed. What percentage of those people who came here as part of the relocation programme have been housed? A percentage close to 85% would be incredible given that €4.14 million remains. Also, given that an amendment to the proposal that we are discussing was made by the European Parliament last week to the effect that member states should be allowed to reuse their recommitted funds on things like developing family reunification and promoting effective integration of third country nationals, as well as for relocation programmes, is it intended that the Government will do this work? I would like to hear more about what the Government plans to do. Will the Government use the funding for purposes broader than relocation? It is great that 85% of the refugees, who are mostly Syrian, who came here as part of these programmes have been housed. However, there are loads of people living in direct provision who have been given their status but cannot leave because they cannot secure housing. Can the money be provided for such work rather than enriching the private owners of direct provision accommodation in our efforts to open more facilities for direct provision? There is a sum of over €4 million available yet loads of people with status cannot get housing. I want to know more about the housing element.

Tomorrow, in the Dáil, we will discuss the International Protection (Family Reunification) (Amendment) Bill 2017 that has passed through the Seanad. I believe that the Government does not support the Bill. Given that family reunification was mentioned a number of times in the European Parliament's amendments to the proposal, would it not be an idea for the Irish Government to change its stance on the funding and use some of the €4 million to allow people to be reunited with their family members?

It is cruel to allow people to stay here but not allow their families to join them. They could be leaving a grandparent stuck in the type of hellhole I described in Greece, or a 19 year old who is too old. There is ministerial discretion and there is money. It is appalling that they are not being used.

The Minister mentioned the resettlement of a further 945 people from the Lebanon. Last year, the European Commission recommended that member states offer at least 50,000 resettlement places by 31 October 2019. How many places have been pledged at European level by member states under this recommendation? Is it anywhere near 50,000? Given the scale of the crisis, can more than 335 this year and 600 next year not be pledged? Has there been any discussion about that?