Vol. 450 No. 7
36 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will meet a deputation from Rescue Trust, a trust responsible for health care for refugees, to discuss the provision of treatment, the consequences of torture and other ill treatment of refugees admitted to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5720/95]
In 1991, the Government established the Refugee Agency to co-ordinate arrangements for the welfare and resettlement of refugees who are admitted to Ireland under Government decisions. The principal Departments concerned, including Health, Education and Social Welfare, are represented on the board of the agency which meets regularly to consider all the different aspects of refugees' welfare.
A comprehensive review of the operation of the Refugee Agency was undertaken in 1994 and the recommendations of that review are being implemented. Additional staff resources have been approved, a new chief executive has been appointed and the administrative budget for the agency has been increased this year to £215,000. In addition, refugees have access to the full range of State services on the same basis as Irish citizens and the costs of such services are met from the Votes of the relevant Departments, health boards and public services.
Rescue Trust, a voluntary agency, have asked that the Government provide them with funding to establish a specialist centre in Ireland for the treatment of refugees suffering from the effects of torture and ill-treatment. This proposal has been carefully considered and the director of Rescue Trust met the then Minister of State at my Department last summer to discuss issues relating to refugee welfare.
I am sympathetic to the situation of refugees who may have suffered long term effects from torture but, having regard to the role being carried out already by the Refugee Agency and the services available through other State agencies here, it is considered that the existing health and social services are well placed to meet whatever demands for specialist treatment exist or which may arise. Rescue Trust have been informed of this and they are aware of the position.
