Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

Tralee Refugee Support Services has been working with asylum seekers and refugees since 2001 when the drop-in centre was first established. The need for the drop-in centre was identified through research into the needs of asylum seekers carried out by Partnership Tralee in early 2001.

There are three direct provision accommodation centres in Tralee which are home to almost 300 asylum seekers. One third of this number is made up of families, two thirds are men, often referred to in the system as "single males", whereas in fact the majority have spouses and children in their home countries.

Asylum seekers have been living in Tralee for the past eight years and inevitably some have secured refugee status. There are no official statistics of the number of refugees in Tralee as the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform does not track people once they secure refugee status. However, because Tralee Refugee Support services has worked continuously with asylum seekers for the past seven years, based on its knowledge it estimates that there are about 70 refugee families living in Tralee. The centre also supports and provides services to those previously in the asylum system who got residency under the Irish born child scheme in 2005. There are about 70 to 80 families with IBC residency in Tralee. As the only immigrant support organisation in Tralee, the centre also provides services and support to migrant workers from both EU and non-EU countries.

In addition to three part-time and one full-time paid staff members, the centre also has at any one time a core of about 15 volunteers who assist on an ongoing basis with different aspects of the work the centre carries out. This is in addition to the eight management committee members. The centre also has occasional volunteers who help with events or specific projects.

Among its daily activities the centre provides an integrated information, advocacy and support service to asylum seekers, refugees and immigrants primarily in the greater Tralee area, but with referrals also being received from west and north Kerry. In 2007 alone it provided almost 5,000 one-to-one supports for 1,000 asylum seekers, refugees and other immigrants. This number has increased every year since the centre opened in 2001. In 2007, it had 69 different nationalities accessing the centre representing countries throughout Africa, Asia, Europe and South America.

Tralee Refugee Support Services operates a drop-in centre as a resource for asylum seekers, refugees and immigrants in the greater Tralee area. Education and training, particularly in English language, literacy and computer skills is a key resource it offers asylum seekers and refugees. It does so in co-operation with the Kerry education service and the education officer of Partnership Tralee. In 2007, it provided training in English, literacy and computers for 150 asylum seekers and refugees. With funding from the HSE south region, the centre operates a family support service for up to 30 asylum seeker families in the Johnston Marina direct provision accommodation centre. It continues to support families when they secure refugee status and helps with the transition from the asylum system to residency in the local community.

Some of the local and regional agencies with which the centre works closely include the HSE south region fostering, community work and social work departments, the local GP practice nurses association, Tralee citizen information service and Tralee homeless information centre.

The Tralee refugee support services centre has submitted its applications to the European Refugee Fund, ERF, and European Fund for the Integration of Third Country Nationals, EIF, in partnership with the Garda Síochána in the town. It has developed a strong working relationship with the Garda, which has been of mutual benefit to the immigrant community and Garda. The centre had hoped funding under the ERF and EIF would have enabled it to develop this work as a unique and innovative project with potential to be replicated nationally.

The Tralee refugee support service supports more than 1,000 immigrants annually, including asylum seekers, refugees, Irish-born child residents and migrant workers. Given that these vulnerable immigrants and their needs will not disappear, how will their needs be met if the centre is forced to close? The service has more than proved its worth over the past seven years, both with client groups and other local and national voluntary and statutory organisations. It now faces closure from next week after seven years unless the Minister intervenes.

I understand EIF funding was not provided to any project in the south west region. Why is this the case? The total amount of grants made available under the ERF and EIF does not appear to add up to the total amount allocated. Are there moneys outstanding? Is more money available from Europe? I welcome the Minister of State and I am pleased he has come to the House to respond to the issue I raise.

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