The State's first dedicated drop-in information centre for Chinese people has handled more than 400 inquiries in the past nine months.
The Irish Chinese Information Centre has just moved to new Dublin city premises to cope with the increasing demand from the expanding population of Chinese nationals, currently estimated at up to 40,000.
The centre offers free assistance on issues such as official dealings with the authorities, landlords, banks and schools or colleges.
Volunteer staff at the centre also provide translated information on legal changes such as the introduction of penalty points for drivers, and have also offered practical and emotional support to bereaved families of Chinese nationals who have died accidentally or been killed in Ireland in recent years.
"Our aim is first of all for the new immigrants so that they have somewhere that is home," said Dr Katherine Chan Mullen, a GP who has helped set up the centre.
"They can come in and chat, have a cup of tea and read their newspapers. We would also like to help all the Chinese community to integrate with the Irish public and to teach them what to do, how to obey the law. We have had more than 400 cases since last May."
The centre plans to run English and computer classes for older members of the community who have lived in Ireland for many years. It is also planning seminars aimed at bridging the culture and generation gaps between older first-generation Chinese immigrants and their children who have grown up in Ireland.
"Most of the Chinese are hard-working, and while the parents are busy working their children were growing up in the Irish culture and their parents keep the Chinese ways and there can be tensions and problems," said Ms Summy Wong, one of the centre's volunteers.
The centre has itself grown from being little more than a China desk in the Migrant Information Centre in Dublin city. Its new premises in Fitzwilliam Square will be opened today by the Chinese ambassador, Mr Sha Hai Lin, and the Minister of State for Children, Mr Brian Lenihan TD.
"We are concerned that some of the younger Chinese in Dublin can drift into lawlessness and gangs, and the centre is very important to provide a focus for the Chinese community," said Mr Lenihan, whose office has made a €10,000 donation to the Irish Council of Chinese Social Services.
The Irish Chinese Information Centre, 63 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-6114666.