25 refugee families from Syria will be housed throughout Limerick city and county before the end of the year, as part of the Government’s commitment to accept up to 4,000 refugees under EU resettlement and relocation programmes.
It is understood that none of them will be accommodated in the Direct Provision Centres at Mount Trenchard, Knockalisheen or Limerick City.
Limerick City and County Council has been asked by the Department of Justice and Equality to chair an inter-agency working group to assist with the resettlement of refugees from Syria in Limerick.
Ireland is one of 25 countries that are currently participating in the humanitarian programme, and twelve families will be resettled in Limerick city and county later this month, with the remainder resettled in the city and county later in the year.
Laura Ryan, the recently appointed Head of Communications and Marketing for Limerick City and County Council, told the Limerick Post that the re-settlement programme is designed to offer protection to persons who have fled their country of origin and sought protection in another country.
“The programme is being implemented in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) and Ireland’s commitment to the programme.
“As part of this commitment, a total of 25 families will be resettled in Limerick in 2016.
“Twelve families will be resettled in Limerick city and county later this month and the remaining families will be resettled in Limerick city and county later in the year”
Ms Ryan explained that under the terms of the 1951 Geneva Convention, those admitted under the programme will have the same rights and entitlements as any Irish person and access to mainstream services in the normal way.
Announcing the resettlement programme last September, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said the Government agreed to establish a network of Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres established for the initial acceptance and processing of those in need of international protection who are accepted into Ireland under the EU Programmes.
She added that assessments and decisions on refugee status would be made in be in the Centres, within weeks.
The resettlement programme is being carried out on a national scale with Cork, Kerry, Clare, Mayo, Laois and Galway already participating in it.
Other organisations involved in the Limerick resettlement programme include the Department of Justice, the Health Service Executive, the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, Tusla, the PAUL Partnership, the Limerick Diocesan office and the Department of Social Welfare .
by Daragh Frawley
