Ivor Callely
Question:92 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the supports and structures in place for programmed refugees; the funding available and services in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20882/99]
Written Answers. - Asylum Applications.
The Refugee Agency, under the Department of Foreign Affairs, is responsible for co-ordinating arrangements for the admission, reception and resettlement of programme refugees.
Following their arrival in this country, programme refugees are provided with accommodation, medical and social welfare benefits, and English language and skills training. They are eligible to apply for naturalisation as Irish citizens after three years residency in Ireland.
Programme refugees are entitled to have close family members admitted to Ireland under family reunification arrangements.
A number of initiatives have been established by the Refugee Agency to provide support to programme refugees. These include the Vietnamese Irish Association; the Bosnian Community Development Project; the Refugee Language Support Unit; the Clann Housing Association Limited and the Zena Project for Bosnian Women.
The cost of providing services for programme refugees is covered by the relevant Government departments. The Refugee Agency is funded by a grant-in-aid from the Department of Foreign Affairs. Its grant for 1999 of £333,000 was supplemented by £392,000 to allow for the additional costs associated with the Kosovar humanitarian evacuation programme.