Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is very welcome to the House. This debate is on a serious matter. Our humanitarian response is crucial with regard to what Ireland can give families, particularly mothers and children arriving on our doorstep. I very much welcome the one-stop shop established to provide access to the different Departments in each of the airports. This is crucial to show that Ireland means what it says and to welcome these refugees and provide them with safe passage and care and welfare when they arrive.

I am a spokesperson on education. In that context, how are we looking at supporting children in school? We see the number of refugees coming through and more than one-third are aged under 18. How will we support them at primary and post-primary school levels? Many towns and villages have outstretched arms and are offering places. Schools have been done up, including just outside Ballygar in Galway and in Roscommon town, to welcome and support refugees. My key questions are on education at primary and post-primary school levels.

Many groups are doing collections and gathering donations. My understanding in recent days is that what is most important at present is financial aid and giving donations in that way to organisations such as the Irish Red Cross, as opposed to the provision of collections of items to be brought over to countries such as Poland. The Minister mentioned that vacant properties constitute 20% of all pledges and that he will be matching refugees to properties. Regarding the timelines for the process, how long will it take?

The Minister probably referred to this aspect in his speech at the start as well, but what measures have been put in place to support families that take in refugees, be that in terms of counselling or understanding the long-term impacts? Those making pledges are asked for information when they go on to the website for the Irish Red Cross, but will the Minister of State give a little bit more information on the timelines and the supports in place?