Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Like the other speakers, I am conscious that today's agenda is a marathon. I share Deputy Daly's view, which she articulately outlined, of the deep flaws in EU policy as a whole on migration and integration. Likewise, while efforts have been made in this area, much more can be done to provide a home here for refugees and asylum seekers.

I do not have many questions as such. Whatever about the wider policy, I appreciate the value of the fund, in particular. Ireland should try to draw as much from that as possible.

Regarding integration, I want to make two particular points in general and then ask a question. They might not be appropriate necessarily to this fund but they are aspects that should be considered. Local authorities have a more significant role to play in the area of integration than they currently play. Some local authorities are probably more proactive than others but given that they are responsible for the location of schools, facilities and so on, they have a more significant role to play.

I tabled a question recently on the forthcoming local elections, which I hope will be taken as an oral question but so far it has not. The Department has done work regarding new Irish communities and, more generally, immigrant communities. I attended one of those events, which was good. By and large, that work is focused on those who have status. Those in direct provision who are seeking asylum in Ireland are entitled to vote in local elections. The Department should be more proactive in informing those in direct provision of their entitlement to vote and facilitating engagement with candidates and councillors. Such measures are invaluable to ensuring integration in our democracy. I would encourage that, not just focusing on those who have status but providing information to those in direct provision who do not have such status.

This fund runs up to 2020. I presume, like most European programmes, the process of beginning a new fund to succeed it has started. Is a proposal for a new fund likely to come before us in the next year or so?