Vol. 485 No. 1
32 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress, if any, to resettle refugees who wish to return and live in their own country without fear; the number of genuine refugees known to his Department and their country of origin; the current position regarding their return; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22357/97]
The Refugee Agency, established by the Department of Foreign Affairs, has responsibility for the co-ordination of arrangements for the admission, reception and resettlement in Ireland of programme refugees, that is, refugees admitted into the State under Government decision in response to appeals from the United National High Commissioner for Refugees. At present, the main groups of programme refugees are Vietnamese and Bosnian. The total number of Vietnamese currently in the country is 593 and the number of Bosnians is 783. These numbers include children and dependants (for example, grandparents).
The Refugee Agency operates a scheme of voluntary repatriation for progamme refugees who may wish to return to their country of origin. Applications to repatriate are completed in the Refugee Agency and submitted to the Department of Foreign Affairs, which forwards the applications to the International Organisation for Migration to make the necessary travel arrangements. On departure, a small resettlement grant is paid per individual and consideration is being given to increasing the amount of this grant. Individuals retain a right to return to Ireland within six months of their departure but are required to pay their own travel costs in such cases.
