Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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309. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an updated report of the work of Office of the Promotion of Migrant Integration; the work which the office will undertake in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45893/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government contains a commitment to promote policies which integrate minority ethnic groups in Ireland, and which promote social inclusion, equality, diversity and the participation of immigrants in the economic, social, political and cultural life of their communities. A significant level of activity is taking place in pursuit of this commitment.

The Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration has a cross-Departmental mandate to develop, lead and co-ordinate migrant integration policy across other Government Departments, agencies and services. The Office is currently engaged in a review of our approach to the integration of migrants with a view to the preparation of a new updated overall integration strategy in keeping with the Government’s commitment to the integration of migrants. A Cross Departmental Group on Integration was reconstituted in March, 2014 to this end with a mandate to review the activities being undertaken by Government Departments and agencies directed to promoting the integration of migrants, preparing a Draft Integration Strategy taking account of the policies and actions already being implemented, and undertaking consultation with key stakeholders. A public consultation process was subsequently launched on 28 March 2014 as part of the review. Over eighty submissions were received from stakeholders, a large number of whom have now met with the Cross Departmental Group on Integration. The Cross Departmental Group has also held a number of thematic meetings focussing on key policy areas relevant to the integration of migrants, including education, access to public services and social inclusion, and the promotion of intercultural awareness and combatting racism. Work on the development of the updated integration strategy is ongoing and will continue into 2015 when a draft strategy will be published and observations invited from key stakeholders before finalisation.

In light of the humanitarian crisis in Syria, 90 persons displaced by the Syrian conflict and who had taken refuge in the Lebanon and Jordan were selected for admission to Ireland under a UNHCR resettlement programme by the resettlement team of the Office. Seventy eight of the refugees have arrived to date and have been resettled. This figure includes three serious medical cases (including two children) and their families, who are receiving appropriate medical treatment. A further twelve refugees will arrive in December. In 2015, 100 refugees will be admitted, the majority from Syria. The resettlement team also continue to work with programme refugees admitted under previous years programmes.

The Office also continues to monitor the prevalence of racist incidents and publishes information in this regard on its website. Other ongoing work is the provision of integration related material via the Office website and circulation lists, dealing with international reporting obligations and representation at integration related national and international fora. The Office provides funding for the promotion of integration to some local authorities and national sports and other organisations. It also administers EU funding for this purpose. This work will continue on 2015.