Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2016
145. Deputy John Halligan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason a hotel (details supplied) is the only reception centre for the very few Syrian refugees that have come to Waterford city. [30960/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn behalf of the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration (OPMI), the Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department has contracted two Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres (EROCs) for the accommodation of refugees during their initial orientation period of approximately 12 weeks. The two centres are the Hazel Hotel in Monasterevin and the Clonea Strand Hotel in Dungarvan.
The groups of refugees are brought to Ireland under the UNHCR Resettlement Programme. The orientation period gives them time to rest and adjust to their new environment and to learn about Irish life and culture. It is also a time of recovery. While in the centre, resettled refugees receive information on their statutory entitlements in accordance with section 24 and section 3 of the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended) and on their responsibilities. Also during this period in the EROC, an orientation and language training programme is provided for adults, from 18 years upwards, for a period of 6-8 weeks to prepare them for independent living in communities around Ireland. The programme refugees are linked to local service providers and have the time to visit their GP to have urgent health matters addressed. Children under the age of 18 participate in an induction programme to prepare them for entry into mainstream education. They may be placed in early years educational programmes if appropriate and available, or childcare is provided to facilitate the adults' participation in the orientation and language programme.
Additional information on the UNHCR Resettlement Programme can be found at: http://www.integration.ie/ and http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home.
