legal and social conditions for asylum seekers and refugees in ...

SOCIAL CONDITIONS FOR REFUGEES
Introduction/legal basis
Housing
The legal instruments governing the general welfare of refugees are included in the Social
Welfare Consolidation Act of 1991.
At the time of writing (May 2000), only “programme refugees” (see under “Legal conditions”) are
offered specific assistance, which is provided by the Refugee Agency. The Agency was initially
established by the Department of Foreign Affairs to co-ordinate arrangements for the admission,
reception and resettlement of refugees admitted to Ireland under specific governmental decisions.
At present its work is primarily concerned with refugees from Kosovo, former Yugoslavia and
Vietnam.
All new programme refugees are assisted on their arrival by the Agency’s Resettlement Team to
ensure that they are registered for, and in receipt of their entitlements to social welfare, health
and other public services; that the children are enrolled in local schools; and that appropriate
English language training is provided. This work is carried out in close co-operation with the
Eastern Health Board and appropriate Government Departments and public bodies.
The Refugee Agency is currently under the direction of the Directorate for Asylum Seekers
Services (DASS) in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. It is expected that it will
be subsumed into the new Reception and Integration Agency, which will be charged with the
reception of asylum seekers and the integration of both programme and Convention refugees
(see “Social Conditions for Asylum Seekers” below).
Upon arrival, programme refugees first stayed in a transit centre for period of about three months.
The Refugee Agency then placed them in accommodation within the communities. However,
those programme refugees who arrive under family reunification agreements are housed with
their families as soon as they arrive.
Recognised refugees have access to council housing.
Freedom of residence/movement
Programme refugees and individuals with refugee status may move freely within Ireland.
In order to travel abroad, programme refugees must apply for travel documents while Convention
refugees can apply for Convention travel documents. If they intend to remain abroad for a period
of more than three months, they require a visa to re-enter Ireland. The Minister for Justice,
Equality and Law Reform can refuse to issue a travel document, in the interest of national
security or public policy.
Integration programme
There is no formal integration programme in Ireland. The Department of Justice, Equality and
Law Reform is currently developing an integration policy. They intend to publish a paper on
integration strategies in the coming months.
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Ireland