I want to condemn the intimidation and aggression outside asylum seeker accommodation in recent weeks. In Dublin, homeless asylum seekers were terrorised and their tents set alight. In Inch, we saw checkpoints set up on public roads with people asked to confirm their ID details before being allowed to walk around and go about their lawful business. In Santry at the weekend, masked people on the far right acted with apparent impunity and controlled entry into an industrial estate. Last night, it was revealed that gardaí in Corofin were investigating the alleged assault of a 70-year-old man during another protest against asylum seeker accommodation. He had to be hospitalised. The scenes we are witnessing around the country are frightening. There are fears of this violence and intimidation escalating. The explicitly racist language being used by far-right groups is giving cover to others to engage in more subtle forms of racism. Tropes about the dangers posed by people who are not local are now becoming alarmingly commonplace to hear.

Ireland as a country has always prided itself on being welcoming. For most of our history, we were a nation of emigrants. Millions of us left in search of a better life. Many who left Ireland suffered discrimination in the countries in which they sought refuge. We cannot allow that kind of targeted racist abuse and vilification to get a foothold here. That kind of behaviour cannot and must not be normalised or viewed as an acceptable form of protest.

Everyone in this House has a responsibility to show political leadership on this issue. There should be no equivocation about condemning the treatment of asylum seekers that we are witnessing. I commend the actions of local communities all over the country which have already welcomed tens of thousands of refugees into their areas. Many have and are setting up welcoming committees to help integration in their communities but they cannot do this work all alone. That is why we need to seek communication from the Government with communities, not to offer vetoes but to outline supports and provide resources that will help with integration. What we are learning so quickly is that without communication, there is a huge void and that void is being filled with misinformation, the consequences of which are horrific.

What is the Government doing to address the recent spate of aggression and intimidation directed at asylum seekers? The migrant integration strategy of the previous Government began in 2017 and concluded in 2021. When can we expect to see a new integration strategy for asylum seekers and refugees?

I thank Deputy Cairns for raising this very important question. I join with her in condemning the violent protests, the intimidation and the racism we have seen occur by some people at some protests in the past few weeks and months, and also the blocking of a public road. Restricting people's freedom is never acceptable. I also condemn the alleged assault of a man in his 70s in County Clare the other day. I extend my best wishes to him and I hope he makes a speedy recovery. I know the Garda will want to interview him and take action on the case.

There is always a place in a democracy for peaceful protest. People have a right to have their voices heard but engaging in violence, intimidation and racism and restricting the freedom of others in a public place is not a legitimate form of protest. I want to be very clear about that. I think the House stands united on that.

When it comes to this matter, we should never lose sight of the bigger picture. We are facing a major refugee crisis, not just here in Ireland but all across Europe. In most years we would have seen 3,000 to 4,000 people coming to Ireland each year looking for protection. In the past year it has been closer to 100,000 people, most of whom are fleeing the war in Ukraine but there are also a very large number of people seeking international protection from other parts of Europe and from outside of Europe. We are struggling to deal with it but I believe we have done a lot. Almost all of those 100,000 people who have come to our country in the past year have been provided with food, shelter, accommodation, access to health care, access to housing and access to education. In many cases they have been provided with employment as well.

I particularly thank the Garda for the work they have done in managing these protests. It is a very difficult job in a difficult situation. I also recognise the communities that have accepted newcomers into their communities. I was pleased to be present with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy O'Brien, and the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Heather Humphreys, in the north inner city in Seán McDermott Street only last week to announce €50 million worth of funding to communities around the country, recognising the value of their welcome and making sure that those communities benefit from investment in services and infrastructure. I have asked Ministers to work on the possibility of a similar fund again in a few months' time, given how well it has been received.

I absolutely agree that information and communication is important. More than 100 new centres have been established to accommodate people from overseas. In the vast majority of cases it has gone well. There have not been protests and communities have accepted those newcomers. I accept, however, that in some places things have fallen down and we need to do better. We all need to do better in that regard. I will give the House a small example. The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman, and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy O'Brien, and their teams have done over 20 meetings with local elected representatives and community groups just in the short period behind us and this of course will continue. We are beefing up the communications teams around the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and led by my Department as well.

We all appreciate that but we need to see more of it. The point is that when there are no meetings taking place the empty void is filled with misinformation and we are seeing the consequence of that. It is too horrific to allow to continue.

The Taoiseach mentioned the bigger picture. In her report last November, Dr. Catherine Day urged the Government to develop a long-term strategy to the crisis. Dr. Day said it was imperative that the Government act quickly and build State-run, not-for-profit, reception and integration centres. She said it was feasible to deliver two by the end of this month and a further four by the end of the year. Has there been any progress on that?

Last week there were more than 500 asylum seekers on the street with no available accommodation. The Irish Times has reported that there were 1,250 vacant rest centre beds in 27 locations across the country. As we speak 250 homeless asylum seekers are still looking for somewhere to go. They are only being provided with a €28 Dunnes voucher. It is difficult to feel there is a real overall strategy that is actually working and having an impact on the ground and in the communities.

The Taoiseach said on Friday the Minister, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman, has asked for and been given additional staff. Will the Taoiseach confirm how many additional staff have been seconded from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to assist with this work? What is the plan for the long-term strategy for State-run integration centres?

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is working on a range of new equality strategies. The Deputy will be aware that the national action plan on racism has already been published. Work is also being done on a migrant integration strategy, a Traveller and Roma strategy, a new national strategy for women and girls, and the process of developing a new migrant integration strategy will begin soon.

The Catherine Day report is a very good report. She and her team did some excellent work. It is important to point out, however, that it was all done based on the assumption that somewhere between 3,000 and 4,000-----

No, this is the updated report.

-----international protection applicants would arrive every year. The world has changed since then, but it remains our policy that we want to move away from direct provision. The Minister is developing proposals for a dedicated migration agency and more State-run facilities; we have some already. The number of staff has increased by 250. There are 250 additional staff in the Department and more are sanctioned. We are also doing a lot of work to speed up decision-making. We need to make sure people who come here, apply for international protection and have the right to stay here get a decision in their favour soon. However, those who should not be here and are not people genuinely fleeing war and persecution should also get their decision quickly so we can effect deportations or, at least, issue deportation notices. We have to do that as well.