Fingal County Council has appointed Valerie McAllorum Byrne as Integration Officer, highlighting its commitment to inclusivity and progress throughout Fingal’s communities.
Valerie has been involved in the development of the new Fingal Integration Forum and has recently completed a review of Fingal County Council’s policies, in conjunction with the Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI), to ensure that they were aligned on equality and human rights to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission’s (IHREC) public sector duty guidelines.
Valerie has worked in Community Development for more than 25 years, and has worked with the Fingal Community Development Office in the areas of Social Inclusion, Community Development, Capital and Strategic Projects for the last 18 years.
She has coordinated projects such as the Volunteer Centre Fingal, Comhairle na nÓg and the development of Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) funded training on Intercultural, Diversity and Public Sector Duty.
Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. David Healy, said: “Integration is a vital element of healthy, cohesive and diverse societies, and I welcome Valerie’s appointment as Integration Officer to spearhead Fingal’s efforts in this direction.”
Chief Executive of Fingal County Council AnnMarie Farrelly said: “As a county with one of the most diverse and dynamically growing populations in Ireland, it’s imperative that Fingal prioritises integration. Valerie’s appointment will help Fingal to achieve this in a strategic and effective way.”
Valerie said: “I am very pleased to be taking on this new role within Fingal County Council in coordinating the goals of the Migrant Integration and Social Cohesion Strategy Actions and in supporting the development of the proposed outcomes.
“The appointment of an Integration Officer reinforces the commitment of the council to promoting integration across the county and to respond to the challenges and opportunities posed by the changing population which it serves.”