Irish Refugee Protection Programme meets with Religious Leaders

Religious bodies will play an important role in the integration of refugees as they begin arriving in Ireland, the Irish Minister of Justice  & Equality has said.

Speaking to religious bodies in Dublin on Thursday 14 January, Minister Frances Fitzgerald T.D. said that it was important that local communities around the country get an opportunity to engage with new communities coming to Ireland.

“We are very fortunate in this country that we do not have any extremist reaction to refugees. However we cannot be lax which is why I ask all of you to help in your parishes and with your communities to communicate about what is happening.”

Ireland has pledged to take 4,000 refugees are asylum-seekers on two different programmes over the following two years under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme. .

520 refugees are arriving from Lebanon on the long standing resettlement programme run in partnership with UNHCR. A further 2,400 will arrive as asylum-seekers from Greece and Italy under the EU’s relocation programme, with the remainder of people to arrive on either or both programmes.

Special priority will be given to women and children, with an emphasis placed on vulnerable families. The majority are expected to be from Syria, Iraq and Eritrea.

“Local communities need to be informed about the groups of who will be coming to Ireland” said Enda O’Neill, Acting head of Office with UNHCR Ireland. “These people have been forced to flee their own homes because of war, conflict and persecution, and are simply looking for a safe place where they and their families can move on with their lives in a safe environment.”

Meanwhile the Irish Red Cross has received 800 offers of support from the public, 500 of which are for accommodation. It is now in the process of carrying out a verification programme, which involves ensuring that homes are near to services such as hospitals and schools.

“It is quite encouraging that 99% of pledges are genuine” said Liam O'Dwyer, Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross. “We will need much back up support when refugees and asylum-seekers arrive, which is one of the ways in which religious bodies can assist.”