2456. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the basis on which community groups and residents from Dundrum, County Tipperary, were excluded from participation in the Community Dialogue Programme meeting due to take place in Tipperary on 7 September 2026; the eligibility criteria applied in determining participation; whether participation is restricted solely to organisations affiliated with the Public Participation Network (PPN); if so, where such a restriction is set out in his Department's published information; who made the decision to exclude non-PPN-affiliated community groups and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62525/26]

The Department’s Community Engagement Team (CET) was established in 2023 to engage directly with community stakeholders like elected representatives, local authorities, community members and service providers, in advance of a new accommodation centre opening for international protection applicants, or for people fleeing the war in Ukraine.

As part of the Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland’s Future, there is a commitment to provide for detailed discussions with communities and to plan more effectively for delivery of public services. The Department has been progressing this commitment since early 2026, and part of this process includes community meetings being convened, in partnership with each Local Authority, to seek feedback on accommodation, migration and integration initiatives in each local authority area. Participants are drawn from existing local authority structures including the PPN, Community Integration Forums, Local Community Development Committees, Local Community Safety Partnerships etc

The CET is collaborating with Tipperary Local Authority to host a Community Dialogue with community representatives in Tipperary. The CET understands that Tipperary Local Authority invited community groups in the Dundrum area to participate in the Community Dialogue.