Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. He referred to the 49 LDCs. I am conscious that they assist 15,000 community groups and up to 170,000 individuals annually, which represents a tremendous outreach and a large amount of work. My two LDCs are Cavan County Local Development and Monaghan Integrated Development, which deliver a range of integration and resettlement programmes and supports to refugees and asylum seekers in new communities who have come here to escape conflicts. Like other groups working with refugees and asylum seekers at local level, for example, family resource centres, which are funded differently, LDCs will be placed under severe pressure because they will face an increased workload over the coming months as we welcome more Ukrainians who come to Ireland to escape the dreadful conflict unleashed upon them by Russia. LDCs are under pressure as it is, though. We want to see them continuing to support local people who need it as well as refugees from various countries, including Ukrainians, who deserve immense support. While I welcome the Minister of State's comments on additional support, will it be sufficient to reach everyone who needs it?

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