Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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651. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth where phase two of the resettlement programme in Carlow aims to resettle the refugee population and how many International Protection persons are to come to Carlow for this IRPPII process; the status of the Inter Agency Working Group in Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24069/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As the Deputy may be aware, a key element of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) ‘whole of government’ approach to integration begins with resettlement in the community.

The integration of programme refugees is supported through the provision of access to mainstream State services. My Department funds local resettlement support teams by way of grants to local authorities. Each Support Team consist of a Resettlement Support Worker with social care and integration experience, and an Intercultural Support Worker.

Local Authorities chair Resettlement Inter-Agency Working Groups on service provision and integration supports, which include State and non-State members. The agenda for these Working Groups is, accordingly, set by the relevant local authority and not my Department.

My Department, through the IRPP, is currently engaged with a number of local authorities, including Carlow County Council, around the commencement of resettlement programmes for IRPP programme refugees. Local Authorities, having been allocated a quota of refugees, consider how best families can be housed and integrated in their area. My Department does not have any control or influence over where these programme refugees are housed in any local authority area. I can inform the Deputy that Carlow has been allocated 129 programme refugees to be resettled under the current resettlement programme.