David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, who cannot be here as she is attending the meeting in Malta of the Justice and Home Affairs Council which is discussing the migrant crisis, I thank the Senator for raising this important matter.

The Senator will be aware that in September 2015 the Government took the decision to establish the Irish Refugee Protection Programme, IRPP, through which 4,000 refugees and asylum seekers fleeing war and conflict would be offered sanctuary in Ireland. Many of those coming to Ireland have lost families and homes. Some 761 persons have come to Ireland so far and 2,000 are due to arrive this year. The intention is that they will be housed temporarily in emergency reception and orientation centres, EROCs, and then move to permanent homes across the country. The EROC recently announced for Ballaghaderreen is the third such centre in the country. The other centres are in the Hazel Hotel in Monasterevin and Clonea Strand in Dungarvan. Therefore, there is experience of the process involved. The principal aim of the Government in establishing such centres is to provide a safe and calm environment in which migrants, mostly young families who have endured unimaginable loss and suffering, can take time to recover physically and mentally, acclimatise themselves to Irish society, learn English and start planning for their future. I note that the Senator has acknowledged the awful situation in which the people concerned have found themselves.

The centres act as hubs for the important range of services that need to be delivered to these particularly vulnerable persons, including medical services, language training, education, cultural orientation and social protection services. Key services such as health and education are provided through mainstream services. The relevant mainstream service providers are engaged in the task of ensuring local services can meet increased demand. An IRPP task force chaired by the Tánaiste offers the framework for planning for future demands on local services. Moreover, as has become standard practice when opening a centre, a local EROC management group, comprising departmental officials and local service providers, is being established to oversee the delivery of required services to residents of the EROC and help to pursue solutions to resource issues that may arise for mainstream service delivery in the area. The EROC management group will include representatives of the HSE, Tusla, the local education and training board and the Department of Social Protection, as well as local community gardaí and IRPP officials.

Community involvement is crucial to the process of enabling refugees to build new lives in Ireland. As a consequence, I will shortly announce the launch of a funding programme to stimulate communities across the country to take action in support of integration. I have been very heartened by the welcome given by the people of Ballaghaderreen towards the refugees and asylum seekers. This goodwill should be harnessed into community action and supported by the Government. I am examining what support is possible to encourage initiatives that will benefit the local community, refugees and asylum seekers. I met the Senator and other local politicians on 11 January to brief them on the opening of the centre. Their support and that of the people of Ballaghaderreen will ensure the refugees will receive a true, warm Irish welcome.