Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 72: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of the integration policy being prepared by the Reception and Integration Agency; when it will be made public; and the form it will take. [13038/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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As in all countries, integration policy is constantly being developed and updated in line with changing demographics and the emerging challenges of multicultural societies. Building on the integration frameworks set out in the National Action Plan against Racism, integration policy is now being further developed to ensure that these challenges are fully met.

The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of which the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) is a part, has intensified its policy development process and is involved in a range of ongoing strategic studies geared to informing policy development in this area.

These initiatives are being reinforced by a series of stakeholder dialogues taking place throughout this year. The first of these took place last February with a major conference on integration policy in Dublin Castle attended by a wide variety of Irish stakeholders and international experts.

In March of this year, the Government approved the establishment of a cross-Departmental group chaired by the Department of An Taoiseach to assist the INIS in carrying out a review of existing integration policy and to provide an initial assessment of future policy options. The group has already had its inaugural meeting and it is expected that an initial report will be submitted to Government within the next two months.