Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Eugene Murphy will be pleased the replacement post has finally been approved by the HSE and that finding a replacement is being treated as a matter of priority. I am told by the HSE that the intention is to fill the post as soon as possible. The Deputy will understand that I cannot comment on the specific cases he has raised but it is helpful to outline them.

In response to what the Deputy mentioned earlier in terms of the refugees coming to Ballaghaderreen, the Irish refugee protection programme was established by the Government in September 2015. The intention is to provide a safe haven for persons seeking international protection. A programme office has been established by the Department of Justice and Equality which will oversee the programme and support the work of the task force. One of the objectives of the structures is to ensure there is a co-ordinated approach to addressing the health care and support needs of the people arriving under the programme. A number of health-related initiatives are already in place to support refugees. In that context the Health Service Executive is working to assess the overall care needs of the group that is due to arrive in Ballaghaderreen, both at local level and with Tusla, and expects to put appropriate measures in place to address those needs. Attention to the provision of counselling and related psychological support services will form part of that approach. The Department will be kept informed on all progress as it happens.

See this speech in context