Publication
Integration Supports for Residents
From International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS)
Published on
Last updated on
From International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS)
Published on
Last updated on
All children, including children of International Protection applicants, refugees, migrant workers and unaccompanied minors can access primary and post-primary education, like Irish nationals, until they have reached the age of 18 years.
The Department of Education’s policy is to integrate school-aged migrant children and young people into existing mainstream schools as quickly as possible, to provide stability for the children.
When new children arrive into a community, the education teams locally are informed and will support the family, with IPAS teams, to access school places. If the nearest schools to an accommodation centre do not have capacity, then transport will be sought to other schools with available capacity within the locality.
Managing enrolments and maximising existing capacity at individual school level, and across a town or area is important to ensure that school accommodation capacity is used in the most effective way.
A Tusla Education Support Service representative can also work with centre management and families, supporting school enrolment for International Protection applicants.
As part of the HSE’s support for international protection applicants, each HSE Community Health team has been allocated additional funding to establish a migrant health response including: migrant health team, catch-up immunisations, GP sessional clinics, psychosocial supports and central co-ordination.
The migrant health teams are staffed with clerical officers, Public Health Nurses and Nurse management, interpreters, relationship and peer support workers, psychologists and other staff.
The Migrant Health team in the area of a new centre can make site visits once the residents have started arriving. Migrant Health Team outreach workers can support people to apply for medical cards and to find a GP.
The team will distribute welcome packs to the arrivals, which will contain information on health services available to them. Site specific nursing clinics can also be made available in some centres or when needed. Sessional GP Clinics that can provide prescriptions and referrals to appropriate services can also be provided.
Access to Out of Hours GP service is provided, as is access to interpreting services for medical appointments. A dedicated psychosocial response is led by a Principal Clinical Psychologist.
International Protection applicants cannot access the labour market for the first six months that they are in Ireland.
After 5 months, international protection applicants can apply to the Department of Justice for permission to work and if granted, this means people can work from 6 months after the date of application for international protection.
Many who have found work are making a positive contribution to the local and national economies, particularly in areas where there are skills shortages. English language classes are provided through community and inter-agency supports and this is very helpful to allow people to work and be part of the community.
People applying for international protection with permission to access the labour market can avail of Intreo (the Public Employment Service) supports and services.
Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses are also often focused on directly developing skills for employment. International protection applicants will be granted access to them, as well as employer networks to make applicants aware of available opportunities and to raise employer awareness of applicants’ skills and qualifications.