Written Ministerial Statement

The content of this written ministerial statement is as received at the time from the Minister. It has not been subject to the official reporting (Hansard) process.

The Executive Office - The Publication of a Refugee Integration Strategy and Delivery Framework

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Published on Thursday 29 May 2025

Mrs O’Neill (The First Minister) and Mrs Little-Pengelly (The deputy First Minister): We wish to advise you that having received Executive agreement we plan to publish a Refugee Integration Strategy (RIS) and associated Delivery Framework.

This Strategy, which has been informed by those with lived experience, aims to set out how the Executive will take action, within the devolved sphere, to ensure people who are seeking protection have the opportunity to make the most of their potential, and to support them and the communities in which they make their homes. It recognises the need to support inter-cultural communities that are built on respect and understanding.

The Executive agreement of this Strategy and Delivery Framework demonstrates the importance of and commitment to collaborative working towards shared outcomes across Departmental and cross sectoral partnerships, which will be key to its successful delivery.

The Strategy’s vision is:

A cohesive and shared society where people seeking protection and refuge are valued and feel safe, are integrated into communities and are supported to reach their full potential.

It is underpinned by four high level outcomes:

Outcome 1: People who seek asylum and refuge are valued and respected.

Outcome 2: People who seek asylum and refuge are safe and feel secure.

Outcome 3: People who seek asylum and refuge exercise their rights and responsibilities.

Outcome 4: People who seek asylum and refuge are supported to achieve their full potential.

The Delivery Framework sets out the key actions that will be taken to achieve the outcomes, with a focus on those cross-cutting issues that those with lived experience and the organisations that support them have raised as priorities. We will strive to achieve incremental change by focusing on a small number of these at a time and success is very much predicted on cross departmental and cross sectoral partnership working.

The Strategy and Delivery Framework are attached for reference and will be published on the TEO website.