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

I am glad that the Senator took up the invitation to visit the centre in Monasterevin and that she found the visit very productive and a good learning experience. Any advice she could give us based on the visit would be welcomed. If other colleagues want to visit other centres in a discreet and respectful manner, they can be facilitated.

The Senator has raised important issues that go beyond the Irish Refugee Protection Programme, including the needs of rural communities and small towns. The Government's rural development action plan provides a comprehensive framework for a series of initiatives to benefit rural Ireland. The opening of the EROC in Ballaghaderreen will create employment opportunities and increase demand for services and goods in the locality. The contractor is aware of the importance of providing jobs within the locality and sourcing goods and services locally, where possible. Bringing new people into Ballaghaderreen will boost the local area. This has been our experience with the other EROCs. However, I would like to examine how we can foster initiatives within the community to benefit locals and refugees. Work is being undertaken within the Department of Justice and Equality to see what is possible.

The IRPP task force, chaired by the Tánaiste, includes representatives of all statutory service providers. It provides the framework for planning to meet future demands and developing solutions where mainstream services are struggling to meet the additional demands following the arrival of refugees. Officials of the Department of Justice and Equality met local representatives on a number of occasions, most recently yesterday. They will continue to engage with them and officials to ensure planning for the arrival of the refugees and asylum seekers will go smoothly. As I said, the asylum seekers will not arrive until early March. As such, there is a good lead-in time for everything to be established. In this regard, we will take on board what we have learned at the other two EROC centres, as well as the direct provision centres.

I again thank the Senator for raising the issue.