Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

This is my last question. I will go back to the Department about what is happening in Italy. On how we will reallocate refugees into local communities, it is my understanding the reallocation will be towards areas there there is not a large social housing waiting list, which makes sense. By definition, it is likely that these communities or towns are not exactly thriving, not the busiest or most popular. Is the Minister looking at the integration of refugees from the point of view of completely turning around these towns, not merely from the point of view of supporting the refugees, in order that they will not feel they are dumping grounds with the least successful towns ending up taking refugees? If we were to invest in the towns at the same time, it might change the whole attitude to how the programme works. Would the Minister support such an initiative?

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