Sixteen refugees resettled in Carlow up to June of this year
The initial agreed allocation for the county was 80
Carlow had resettled sixteen refugees up to June of this year out of a total initial allocation of 80, figures provided by a Government minister have revealed.
The settlement in communities in local authority areas is coordinated by an inter-agency working group chaired by the relevant local authority, with refugees supported by an "implementing partner" procured by the local authority.
Independent TD, Clare Daly, asked the Minister for Justice and Equality about the model for resettlement being delivered by the Irish Refugee Protection Programme in the various counties.
In a written response, Minister Charlie Flanagan said: "The Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration (OPMI) is the primary entity within my Department responsible for resettling refugees.
"It has overseen the humanitarian resettlement programmes run by Ireland since they were established in 2000. The Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) was subsequently established in September 2015 and is now part of the OPMI.
"The funding for the implementing partner is provided by the IRPP and the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), both under the auspices of my Department.
"Local Authorities play a critical role in ensuring the success of each resettlement through the procuring of a suitable implementing partner with expertise in community integration and relevant supports.
"The implementation of the resettlement programme requires a high level of coordination among service delivery agencies at both national and local level.
"Once resettled, the implementing partner provides appropriate services for a period of twelve to eighteen months to assist with integration. The standard model is now focussed on an eighteen month period.
"The numbers reflect the fact that the programme is a work in progress, with further resettlements planned and personnel yet to be recruited.
"Some counties will be resettling further refugees as their overall allocation is higher than their initial allocation."