Written Answers. - Kosovo Crisis.
Brendan Howlin
Question:
36
Mr. Howlin
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
the number of Kosovar refugees accepted by Ireland to date; the number it is expected to accept; the restrictions, if any, Ireland has placed on the type of refugee it will accept; if a decision has been made to accept only those who are in camps and not people who are residing with Albanian families; if his attention has been drawn to the dangers of families being split up by this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12024/99]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
53
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
the position in relation to the accommodation of refugees arising from the Kosovo crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12054/99]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
126
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
the number of refugees from Kosovo to be accommodated here; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12276/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 53 and 126 together.
As was mentioned in the priority question, the Government has agreed to take in 1,000 refugees from Macedonia. A further intake will be considered in the light of ongoing assessment of the situation. The first airlift of 138 refugees arrived in Kerry yesterday with a further 150 expected on 13 May. Thereafter the refugees will continue to arrive on a phased basis during the months of May and June.
The international organisation for migration is organising the evacuation flights out of Skopje.
The first group is being accommodated at Atlas House, Killarney – 100 refugees and Drishane Castle, Millstreet – 50 refugees. The second group of 150 will arrive at 1 p.m. on Thursday, 13 May and will be accommodated in Rathcoran Hostel, Baltinglass, County Wicklow – 50 and in mobile homes on the site of Kildare town decommissioned barracks – 100 initially. Thereafter the refugees will continue to arrive on a phased basis during the months of May and June.
It is understood that, as of now, the refugees admitted as part of the UNHCR humanitarian evacuation programme will come from camps in Macedonia. The decision to evacuate from the camps was taken by the UNHCR to relieve the pressure on the camps which are suffering from overcrowding. The UNHCR is endeavouring, as far as possible, to keep families together and I fully support this as family groups should find it easier to settle in their new environments. I would also say that the Government are committed to a programme of family reunification and refugees would be entitled to apply to have their family admitted to Ireland. The State will pay transport costs involved.
The accommodation provided to the refugees is on a self-catering basis in privately owned hostels, former convents and in mobile homes in former barracks owned by the Department of Defence. The accommodation has been selected on the basis of availability, suitability for families and compliance with fire regulations. The refugees will be clustered in the various centres so that they can remain in community groups and to facilitate access to public services.
Each reception centre will have its own small management team, headed by the refugee agency, which is under the auspices of the Department of Foreign Affairs. The teams will consist of a manager, two to three assistants, one to two project workers (who will provide interpreter services as well as general duties), a receptionist or general office worker, and a small number of domestic and security staff. Staff will generally be on secondment from health boards. Members of the defence forces are also being seconded to the teams.
A national co-ordination committee made up of departmental representatives and the refugee agency is spearheading the operation. The committee is centred at the Department of Foreign Affairs. There will also be local operations committees in each centre to oversee the centres.
It is also envisaged that appropriate structures will be put in place at local level to facilitate the greatest possible degree of support and involvement by the local community and NGOs for example ICA, Macra Churches etc.
I wish to acknowledge the enormous outpouring of support and welcome and offers of assistance coming from the Irish people. We are still actively seeking to identify additional accommodation. Inspection teams are busy identifying and making ready accommodation for future needs. A range of services will be made available to refugees to meet their various needs. They will take some time to become accustomed to their new environment but with the expert assistance of the refugee agency and other officials their trauma will be assuaged. I would like to acknowledge the work of all state agencies involved in the effort to date.
