Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist: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.
Vol. 425 No. 7
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.
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.