Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

There are many aspects of this that we could talk about that are probably outside the remit of this committee, such as education, health and areas in the responsibility of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Given it is the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth who is here, does he feel he is getting sufficient support from his Cabinet colleagues to meet the needs of these communities, that is those seeking international protection?

An issue that has been raised with me by constituents and some of those seeking international protection living locally is the stability of placements. I appreciate that when trying to get accommodation for such numbers in an unprecedented way, it can be very difficult. There have been places where communities are accommodated and are starting to put down roots, attend schools, etc. but then the contract for provision of that placement ends. Those people do not know where they are going and then they are uprooted. We also see this with homeless services. There is an issue in respect of the stability of placements. Can the Minister speak on that or the work that is being done to support that?