The UNHCR yesterday formally requested that Ireland take refugees from Kosovo, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ms Liz O'Donnell, announced.

The State expects to be in a position to welcome the first group of between 250 and 300 refugees very shortly in Waterford, Wexford and Cork city and county.

Ms O'Donnell told the Dail that the Government was now stepping up arrangements for receiving refugees. The former Army barracks in Kildare is being considered as possible accommodation for some of them but it would take some months before the accommodation there could reach "full potential".

Ireland has offered to look after 1,000 refugees, the Minister said. "It is envisaged that refugees would come in groups rather than all at one time, and would be made up of family groups for the most part," she told Mr Billy Timmins (FG, Wicklow), who raised the issue on the adjournment.

"Given existing pressures on accommodation and other services in Dublin, efforts are being made to accommodate the Kosovan refugees, to the extent possible, outside the greater Dublin area and in centres where they can have access to public services."

Ms O'Donnell expressed appreciation to members of the public who had offered assistance. "The present thinking, however, is to try and accommodate the refugees in larger centres where they can remain in community groups and more easily access public services."