Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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56. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if the Government has an integration programme for refugees arriving here; if not, the reason; when an integration programme will be available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2260/17]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, an Irish refugee resettlement programme has been in operation since 2000. 1,717 vulnerable persons from 27 different countries, including Iraq and Syria, have been resettled under this programme in Ireland to date. Refugees have been resettled in 39 different communities throughout Ireland and in all four Dublin local authority areas to date.

The key elements of the programme are:

- The programme is overseen at the national level by an Inter-Departmental Working Group chaired by the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration (OPMI) in the Department of Justice and Equality.

- It is overseen at the local level by an inter-agency working group established in each receiving community and chaired by the Local Authority.

- Representatives of the OPMI resettlement team, accompanied by interpreters, meet the refugees on arrival airside in the airport and accompany them to an Emergency Reception and Orientation Centre where they are accommodated for approximately 8 to 10 weeks.

- An 8 to 10 week language training and orientation programme is provided by the Education and Training Board in cooperation with OPMI at the Emergency Reception and Orientation Centre. Speakers are invited from various organisations to provide information about their services to the refugees. Interpretation is provided to ensure a full understanding of the content on the part of the refugees.

- Childcare is provided free of charge to allow the adults to attend the programme.

- Education provision is made for school age children by the Department of Education and Skills.

- Refugees are assisted to apply for medical cards and assigned a GP.

- Refugees are taken to register with the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) where they are issued with a Registration Certificate and to the Department of Social Protection to register for a public services card and to be assessed for a social protection income.

- Programme refugees have, in general, the same rights and entitlements as an Irish citizen in relation e.g. to employment, education and training, medical care, social welfare, access to the courts etc. OPMI works in consultation with all relevant agencies at the national and local level to ensure that refugees can access services to which they are entitled and that the necessary services are put in place as quickly as possible.

- Prior to the transfer of refugees to their permanent location, decisions about housing, education, health services etc. have to be taken by the local inter-agency working group in consultation with OPMI.

- The OPMI arranges the transfer from the Emergency Reception and Orientation Centre to the receiving community. OPMI staff also accompany refugees to their first appointments with the various public services in the local community, providing interpretation where required and assisting in the resolution of any difficulties etc.

- Further language training is provided in the receiving community by the Education and Training Board for a period of 12 months post arrival.

- The OPMI resettlement team supports the local inter-agency working group for approximately 18 months after the transfer of the refugees to the receiving community. Grants are made by the OPMI to the receiving community to employ a resettlement support worker for a period of up to one year. The Resettlement Support Worker organises a suite of integration initiatives during the first year post arrival, such as the establishment of homework clubs, developing links with sporting clubs; promoting participation in local men’s and women’s activities; organising intercultural events and promoting participation in the arts and in volunteering at a local level. In the first year post resettlement, the focus is on preparing refugees for employment and independent living. Language and other training programmes are organised at a local level by the Education and Training Board in consultation with INTREO and other local agencies.

- All resettled refugees have the contact details of their key OPMI resettlement officer should any issues arise that cannot be resolved locally.

Similar supports will be provided for all refugees admitted under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme.