Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 May 2021
24. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider bringing to Ireland at least an additional 400 refugees from Lesbos and or other refugee camps in Greece. [41661/20]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that officials from the Irish Refugee Protection Programme in my Department, along with Tusla personnel and members of An Garda Síochána will travel next week to Greece for a selection and security screening process for 12 refugee families (50 persons) and 27 Separated Children Seeking International Protection.
The Government pledge of last October to resettle up to 50 people from the island of Lesvos was in addition to the commitment that Ireland had already made with the UNHCR to resettle 2,900 refugees to Ireland between 2020 and 2023. The pledge regarding the children was part of an earlier commitment for relocations from Greece. No further offer has been made to the Greek authorities.
