JRS Launch Annual Report

The year 2009 continued to be an extraordinarily turbulent period internationally and locally.

Ireland plunged into deep recession, reeling under the burden of simultaneous economic, fiscal and financial crises. In line with international trends the number of persons seeking asylum in Ireland fell for the sixth consecutive year. Nevertheless, the needs of families and individuals seeking asylum and living in Direct Provision continued to demand a response from JRS Ireland.

The changing face, and indeed faces, of Irish society present immense opportunities but also significant integration challenges. In 2009 JRS Ireland were committed to intercultural actions and integration activities that sought to enhance the lives of all residents, both local and migrant, and to celebrate the diversity that is now part of everyday life in Ireland.

I would like to acknowledge the work and contribution of JRS Ireland staff members who departed during 2009, Rory Halpin SJ and Brendan MacPartlin SJ. However, none of the many services and activities delivered in this report would have been possible without the tremendous work and dedication of: Sr. Majella Dennehy; Nicola Morris; Sr. Eleanor O’Brien, Elizabeth O’Rourke and Stephen Hayes.

There were many highlights and achievements during 2009 including:

Maintained strong weekly presence in 5 Direct Provision Centres in Dublin and 2 in Limerick
Throughout the year provided football outreach to residents from Mount Trenchard in Foynes, County Limerick and expanded sports outreach in Dublin
Participated in the Detention in Europe of Vulnerable Asylum Seeker (DEVAS) and the Advocacy Network on Destitution (ANDES) research, comparative studies in EU Member States which will be published in 2010
Very successful Intercultural Summer Programme of events in which 142 children
participated in Dublin and 24 children in Limerick
Hosting JRS Europe AGM in October 2009 in Clongowes College
Obtained funding of €238,000 from Irish Aid for a JRS School Construction Project in the Central African Republic
Significant contribution to development of the Limerick City and County Integration Plan 2010-12 in role as joint chairperson of the Limerick Integration Working Group

Finally, I would like to acknowledge the excellent support and assistance I received from the JRS Ireland Council (Sr. Joan Roddy, Sr. Ann Scully, Mr. Fidele Mutwarasibo, Anna Marie Gallagher, Mr. PJ Farrell (Social Justice Delegate) and Mr. Declan Cunningham (Chair). Also I would like to thank especially the Social Justice Delegate for his ongoing support and encouragement. I would also like to express my deep appreciation to the outgoing Irish Provincial, John Dardis SJ and to welcome his successor Rev. Tom Layden SJ. JRS Ireland remains indebted to the Irish Jesuit Province for their extremely generous support, both in terms of finance and human resources.

You can download a copy of the JRS Ireland 2009 Annual Report here.
Eugene Quinn,
Director
Jesuit Refugee Service Ireland