Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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83. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will report on the way local authorities are co-ordinating their refugee supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22140/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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On 31 March 2022, my colleague, Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development, and I wrote to the chief executives of the local authorities welcoming the establishment of Community Response Forums in every local authority area to coordinate the community-led response in the provision of assistance and support to those arriving into our communities having fled the conflict in Ukraine. 

The purpose of the Community Response Forums is to ensure effective communication and information sharing in the coordination of public and local community and voluntary actions providing community supports to the new Ukrainian communities. The Forums build on structures and relationships which were highly effective during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic and enable all those involved in the response locally to work together, under the stewardship of the local authority.

To assist in the process, a Community Response Forum Framework was developed by our Departments with the local government sector. This is a national template for arrangements in each area to enable all involved at a local level to work together to support the integration of Ukrainian refugees to our communities.

The Community Response Forums are meeting regularly and are doing so in a very positive and collaborative environment.

In recognition of the growing numbers involved and the complexity of managing such a quickly changing situation, on 22nd April, I wrote again to Chief Executives of all local authorities to request that a Director of Service level staff member be assigned full time, supported by a small team, to coordinate the provision of services and supports locally.  My Department is engaging with local authorities to ensure that the necessary resources are in place to facilitate this strengthening of the local coordination effort.