Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I am happy to take the opportunity to acknowledge the work of partnership companies. They are probably one of our key partners on the ground that are facilitating integration, particularly through the social inclusion and community activation programme. We have an additional €10 million allocation for work with Ukrainians and international protection applicants that we secured last year, but also for 2024. In addition to that, we secured an increase in the budget of 6% under SICAP. I acknowledge the amazing work being done by SICAP via local development companies throughout the country.

I will briefly mention an interesting initiative that ETBs in Cork and Dublin have established to assist international protection applicants and Ukrainians who have qualifications in the areas of gynaecology, palliative care, neurology or dermatology, as well as paramedics and physiotherapists, to improve their English language skills in order that they can go more directly into the labour market at their level. There are many initiatives across several Departments that are doing really good work. The development of the new national integration strategy will allow us to build on them and respond, particularly in the context of the past 18 months and the challenges they have brought.

See this speech in context