Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the role he will play to ensure that the EU and UN accelerate the resettlement of hundreds of Roma families that are living in temporary camps constructed by the UN administration in Kosovo and who are suffering from severe lead poisoning which is being compounded by the ongoing delays in relocating persons at risk; his views on the urgency of this matter in view of the number of Roma children living in these camps in view of the fact that they are particularly susceptible to the effects of lead poisoning. [8231/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government takes a close interest in the situation of Roma families in Kosovo and, in particular, those living in temporary camps which are exposed to high levels of lead contamination.

The Taoiseach raised the living conditions of the Roma when he met President Sejdiu and Prime Minister Thaci during his visit to Kosovo on 22 December 2008. The Deputy will also be aware that the matter was the subject of an adjournment debate on 25 November 2008, when my colleague, Peter Power T.D., emphasised Ireland's support for all efforts to address the plight of the residents in these camps.

My officials regularly raise the issue at senior level within the EU both in Brussels and in Kosovo. An official of my Department met last October with the Head of Operations of the European Commission Liaison Office (ECLO) in Kosovo. This is the EU body charged with co-ordinating national and international efforts to secure a long-term sustainable solution to the difficulties facing the Roma community in Kosovo. Our Ambassador in Budapest, who is accredited to Kosovo, followed up on the matter with the EU Presidency in Pristina last November.

The ECLO has drawn up a €5m project to help resolve this humanitarian problem in cooperation with the Government of Kosovo and USAID. ECLO signed a contract with an NGO (Mercy Corps Scotland) on 14 December 2009 to implement it. The objective is to resettle and reintegrate up to 90 Roma families living in camps in North Mitrovica. It also includes provision for medical services and the treatment of children from the camps as well as access to education and other social services.

I am pleased to report that the project started on 1 February as planned and will be carried out over the next two and a half years. On 8 February, an official of my Department discussed its implementation with the Head of the ECLO during a meeting of the International Steering Group on Kosovo.

Together with our EU partners, we will continue to pursue the question of Roma resettlement with the responsible authorities and monitor the implementation of this ECLO project. Our objective is to contribute to the closure of the Osterode and Cesmin Lug camps.

The Deputy will also wish to note that Ireland has supported a broad range of projects to assist the Roma community in the Western Balkans region, including Kosovo. From 2005 to 2009, Irish Aid allocated €850,000 towards development and educational projects with the Roma community in Kosovo. In addition, Ireland contributed €200,000 to the World Bank's Roma Education Fund, which works in eleven countries in Central and Eastern Europe, including Kosovo.