Carlow County Council has been requested by the Department of Justice and Equality to act as the lead agency supporting the resettlement of UNHCR Programme Refugees in Carlow. The Department’s "Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP)) is working through Local Authorities and local agencies in a number of counties to facilitate the integration and resettlement of refugees through this programme.

The resettlement will be steered and monitored by the Carlow Interagency Resettlement Working Group that includes representatives from statutory and community and voluntary agencies. Organisations involved to date include Carlow County Council, HSE, KCETB, An Garda Síochána, Department of Social Protection, Túsla, Carlow Children and Young Peoples Services Committee, Secondary and Primary School Representatives, Carlow County Childcare Committee and Department of Justice & Equality.

The families destined for County Carlow are part of the 4000 people approximately, which the Irish Government has committed to receiving through the Irish Refugee Protection Programme This follows a decision in 2015 by the European Commission for member states to admit Syrian refugees as part of the UNHCR Resettlement Programme.

The process is facilitated by the Department of Justice following a selection and screening process in UNHCR camps. This screening includes health and education needs assessment with background security checks. The families will undertake an initial language and orientation programme when they arrive in Ireland organised by the Department of Justice, before being resettled to County Carlow. As Programme Refugees who have been invited to Ireland, the refugees will have the same rights as Irish citizens to education, housing, health, social welfare and employment services.

The OPMI are allocating approximately 20 families to Carlow and following discussions it is now envisaged that they will arrive in two phases, Phase 1 in December 2017 and Phase 2 early in 2018. To ensure that housing, health, education, transport, and other required services are available, it is proposed that the first phase will be housed in December 2017.

Carlow County Council now seeks to appoint a community based organisation as Programme Implementer to provide Resettlement Support Services. This will include the recruitment of a Resettlement Worker and an Intercultural Worker to implement the local Resettlement Programme in Carlow. The programme will commence from Agreement Date and run for a period of 18 months. The project may be extended subject to the availability of further funding.

The overall objective of the programme is to ensure that the Syrian refugees can settle into the community, can access services appropriately and build lasting relationships with the local community.

Please see attached Tender Document.

Tender Deadline 01/11/2017