Vol. 446 No. 2
37 Ms O'Donnell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of refugees currently living in Ireland to the knowledge of the State authorities; where they have come from; where they are currently situated in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1738/94]
My Department's primary responsibility in this area relates to what are called programme refugees, that is refugees admitted on humanitarian grounds from areas of conflict, usually on foot of Government decisions. The reception and treatment of such refugees in Ireland is the responsibility of the Refugee Agency, a statutory body under the aegis of my Department.
The two main groups of programme refugees admitted in recent years were from Bosnia and Vietnam. There are currently 347 Bosnian refugees in Ireland and 508 people of Vietnamese extraction. Of these, 18 Bosnians are currently located at Cherry Orchard Reception Centre in Ballyfermot and nine medical evacuees who were admitted earlier this year are still inpatients at Cappagh Orthopaedic hospital in Dublin. All other Bosnians have now been placed in private rented accommodation in the Dublin area. Most Vietnamese refugees have been resident in Ireland a number of years and many have taken up Irish citizenship. They are located throughout the country, but the majority have settled in the greater Dublin area.
The question of the overall number of refugees in the State is the subject of a parliamentary question to the Minister for Justice on today's Order Paper.
