The Minister for Justice and Equality in consultation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR) and European Institutions agreed to undertake the resettlement of refugees displaced from their home countries as a result of conflict.\u00a0 In recent years, priority has been given to the resettlement of refugees displaced by the Syrian conflict who have sought refuge in neighbouring countries in the region.<\/p>\n
County Monaghan has been designated as a resettlement county for 20 Syrian families (totaling approx 90 persons) and Monaghan County Council has been requested to establish an Inter-Agency Working Group, where representatives of the local mainstream service providers (HSE, Cavan\/Monaghan Education & Training Board, Department of Social Protection, Tusla, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, Citizens Information, County Childcare Committee and Monaghan Integrated Development, etc.) come together to plan for and ensure that required services are available.<\/p>\n
The Department of Justice and Equality\u2019s Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration is working with Monaghan County Council and the Inter-Agency Working Group in co-ordinating the resettlement process, under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme.<\/p>\n
Funding has been approved by the Department of Justice and Equality and Monaghan County Council is now tendering for an Implementing Partner to enable a Support Worker and a Cross Cultural Worker to be appointed.\u00a0 These supports will provide assistance to the 20 refugee families and will support the work of the Inter-Agency Working Group to promote and facilitate local integration.
\nMonaghan County Council, as the Housing Authority, is tasked with providing suitable accommodation to meet the needs of the families and is currently working to ensure this is available by Q1 of 2018, when it is anticipated the families will be ready for resettlement in County Monaghan.<\/p>\n