Maura Hopkins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality, Deputy Stanton, to the House today and for facilitating this important debate on the migrant integration strategy. My contribution will focus on the integration of the individuals who have come to Ireland as part of the Irish refugee protection programme which was established in 2015. This was a direct response to the developing humanitarian crisis in many countries.

As the Minister of State is aware, I have had, and continue to have, extensive involvement with the emergency reception and orientation centre which has operated in my home town in Ballaghaderreen in County Roscommon since the middle of March. I was in the centre again yesterday and I am there quite regularly. It is lovely to hear contributions from other Senators from throughout the country about the leadership shown by Ballaghaderreen in welcoming these people. It was lovely to see smiles on faces and the fear gone from many faces of those who use the centre. By the end of this week it is expected we will have approximately 200 refugees in the EROC centre in Ballaghaderreen.

We know that the mass migration of people is a very complex global issue that could probably be described as the biggest challenge facing the world. Conflict and violence continue to be the main reasons for so many people having to flee their homes. An estimated 65 million people are displaced, 40% of whom are children. We know from the emergency reception and orientation centre in Ballaghaderreen that about half the current refugees are children. This challenge demands that the international community works together. Ireland needs to play its part. Ireland has agreed to accept 4,000 refugees under the Irish refugee protection programme. We know that progress has been slow initially, but the number of people coming to our shores is now increasing. We also know that the people who are coming to our shores have been through very difficult situations and have suffered so much. Many have unaddressed and undiagnosed medical needs.Many of the children have never attended school or have missed years of schooling. This migrant integration strategy is important because it envisages a whole-of-Government approach to assisting the integration of these individuals into Irish society.

From my experience in recent months, I am aware that there are challenges with the process of integration. Greater co-ordination at the early stages is necessary to ensure that local service providers are fully briefed on their obligations. In Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon, there was an information gap and some of these issues continue to obtain. We enable refugees to access mainstream services such as those relating to health, education and social protection. To make this integration process as effective as possible, there needs to be greater communication with local service providers, such as general practitioners, schools, child care facilities, education and training boards and all of the other necessary services, in order to support these individuals at their point of arrival.

The Minister of State indicated that the health service is a good example of a system that has adapted to meet the challenges of diversity. I disagree with this. The Minister of State will be aware that I have raised serious concerns about the obligations of the Health Service Executive, HSE, and the Department of Health in supporting the refugees who have come to Ballaghaderreen. The HSE, following significant pressure from the Minister of State, commissioned Safetynet to operate the mobile screening unit. That was funded through the Dormant Account Fund. However, it is not good enough that money from dormant accounts is being used to support the health needs of these individuals. We need to ensure that the Department of Health and the HSE live up to their obligations and responsibilities in providing additional resources to deal with these needs. When I visited the health centre, the manager highlighted difficulties, particularly with regard to dental care, which are not being addressed.

I commend the people of Ballaghaderreen and the friends of the centre who have done so much in a short time to welcome these people, as has been mentioned, through sport, music, etc. I continue to receive numerous calls regarding the donation of clothes and time. This is real integration and it is extremely positive.

I commend our local Foróige club, which won the national citizenship award two weeks ago.