Gillian Toole (Meath East, Independent)
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1948. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the specific measures now being implemented to improve community consultation, communication and integration of those proven to need international protection from the Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21025/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's Community Engagement Team (CET) was established in late 2023 to engage directly with elected representatives, local authorities, NGOs, Community Fora, local services, An Garda Síochána and other, in advance of opening accommodation centres for people seeking international protection.

The purpose of the team is to improve the flow of information about new and existing accommodation centres into communities, to assist with integration for the people joining our communities. Extra resources have been added to the CET during 2024 to extend our reach and impact.

When a decision is made by my Department to accommodate people at a new centre, the team then works to engage with and provide detailed information to the local community, in advance of the centre opening. They will give the full details of the property including the contracted capacity, resident profile and details about how the centre will be managed.

The team can also attend meetings for dialogue with local representatives and groups, providing background information, answering questions and listening to people's views, and helping to activate or support location partnerships where relevant to support accommodation openings.

The team also supports information sharing through a dedicated email service for queries from local groups about new and existing centres.

Between October 2023 to date, the CET has worked through the openings of over 130 IPAS and Ukraine accommodation centres. Some of these have involved a simple sharing of information through the relevant channels, while others have involved more detailed meetings with local community groups, local officials, public representatives and other key stakeholders.

There have been many consistent examples of meaningful and productive engagement, and service providers and elected representatives around the country demonstrate ongoing support for our work and for our residents.

Making the Department’s work better understood, providing information when needed, and being available to meet or speak with local representatives has assisted with the successful initiation of many centres.

In relation to larger State-owned sites, the model of engagement has been developed to plan for more meaningful dialogue to support these larger centres, particularly those on state-owned lands being developed under Government policy to move away from dependence on commercial providers.

Overall, it's important to note that we have over 320 accommodation centres in Ireland, we open new centres regularly as needed. Our centres operate with the support of the community, with dialogue and engagement, and thanks to the co-operation of the people in the area, IPAS and centre management, local public services of all sectors, and residents and advocates.

As part of the Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland’s Future, there is a commitment to provide for detailed discussions with communities and to plan more effectively for delivery of increased public services.

This work will be progressed as part of the development of a new Migration and Integration Strategy, and will shortly transfer from my Department to the Department of Justice on 1 May 2025.

I trust this information clarifies the matter.