Jim O'Keeffe
Question:50 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of refugees from Bosnia in Ireland; and if he will increase the number to a reasonable level.
Written Answers. - Refugees from the Former Yugoslavia.
Máirín Quill
Question:63 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of refugees from Croatia and Bosnia currently in Ireland; the number of those that have moved from Ireland; whether he has satisfied himself with the facilities and welfare afforded to such refugees; and whether his Department has been approached to accept more refugees.
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 50 and 63 together.
The Government decided on 28 July 1992 to provide for the admission of up to 200 refugees from the former Yugoslavia. A group of 178 arrived in Ireland on 2 September. It was subsequently decided to admit 22 immediate family members of the refugees already here and arrangements are at present being made to locate these family members and organise their transport to Ireland.
A reception centre for the refugees was established at Cherry Orchard. There was close co-operation between the Refugee Agency, Civil Defence, the Irish Red Cross and the Eastern Health Board in the arrangements for the reception of the refugees. These agencies are now actively seeking more permanent accommodation. In recent weeks, a number of families has been moved into private rented accomodation and this process will be continued for the remaining refugees over the coming months.
I am satisfied that all the appropriate facilities and welfare arrangements have been provided for the refugees since their arrival in Ireland. I note that the UN High Commissioner for Refugees praised the arrangements which had been made by Ireland when she visited the Cherry Orchard Reception Centre in October.
It is now six months since the arrival in Ireland of the group of refugees from the former Yugoslavia. I am conscious of the continuing refugee problem as a result of the conflict and of the heavy burden imposed on neighbouring states in the region, which have accepted large numbers of displaced people. I will, therefore, be reviewing with my colleagues in Government what future action Ireland might take to assist in the tackling of this tragedy, bearing in mind our relatively limited capacity to absorb large numbers of refugees and also the needs of those families who have already arrived in the country.