Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy asked a number of questions in a short period. There are 602 refugees living in four reception centres in counties Kildare, Roscommon and Louth in which they receive orientation support. They also receive integration and language training support while waiting for housing to be sourced. I agree with the Deputy that it is important that there be no undue delay in the transfer of refugees from reception centres to long-term housing in both urban and rural settings throughout the country and that the full range of services should be available to them while awaiting relocation to ensure their other needs are met.

As the Deputy may be aware, the programme was slow to become operational in the case of refugees from both Greece and Italy. This gave rise to delays earlier this year. National security is, of course, a competency that remains the sole preserve of each individual member state. Ireland already had arrangements in place to allow members of An Garda Síochána to travel to Greece to interview refugees which had been assigned to Ireland. However, the position was not the same in Italy where, for various reasons, there were difficulties in allowing police officers from member states to carry out this important function on Italian soil. The IRPP is working actively and positively to bring as many refugees from Greece as possible here by the end of the year. This, of course, is dependent on a number of factors, including the provision of housing by local authorities for persons currently in reception centres. There is the full and active engagement of the appropriate agencies involved.

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