Written answers

Tuesday, 14 December 2010

Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Community Development

10:00 am

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs his plans to develop the Ministerial Council on Integration; if he has had meetings with other Government Departments regarding the development of integration; the result of such discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46041/10]

Photo of Mary WhiteMary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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As I indicated in my reply to Question No 91 on 3 Samhain 2010, the establishment of the Ministerial Council on Integration is one of the initiatives outlined in the policy statement - Migration Nation: Statement on Integration Strategy and Diversity Management - and is part of progressing work on immigrant integration policy in Ireland. The Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion, Children and Integration and the Senior Officials Group which supports the Cabinet Committee are also involved in this work.

The Council provides a forum where immigrants can speak directly to me regarding their experience of integration in Ireland and assist me in better-informed policymaking by identifying issues and bringing them to attention. Inaugural meetings of the Ministerial Council on Integration have been held in all the regional fora of the Council. Following the completion of the inaugural meetings of the Ministerial Council, it is my intention to convene a formal meeting of the standing Cross-Departmental Group on Integration in the near future.

In accordance with the policy of mainstreaming of services for migrants, primary responsibility for the delivery of services rests with the relevant service providers and Government agencies at both central and local level. My Office engages with these bodies (and with relevant non-governmental organisations) on an ongoing basis with regard to issues relating to the integration of migrants. Issues which have been raised at the Ministerial Council are brought to the attention of the appropriate bodies.

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