Sir, - As the Government agency co-ordinating the current Kosovar refugee programme, we would like to acknowledge the enormous public support and welcome that has greeted the arrival of the first two groups of Kosovars to Ireland and the very positive effect that this welcome has had on the refugees.
In addition to the large welcoming crowds and the involvement of local people and Bosnian refugees in preparing meals for the first few days, there has been an almost overwhelming volume of offers of clothing, toys, local events and accommodation from a wide range of individuals, community and religious groups and corporate bodies around the country.
It is fully intended to harness this goodwill. To this end, in each area where there is a reception centre, it is proposed to quickly set up a local support committee to ensure the greatest possible degree of local community involvement and support and to help organise a social programme bringing together the local community and the refugees.
We would like to specifically thank the very many generous offers from individuals and institutions to offer accommodation in their own homes or other premises to individual refugees, refugee families or small groups of refugees. We would like to briefly explain why these offers of accommodation have not been taken up.
To disperse individuals and families into small groups around the country would, on past experience here and elsewhere, lead to isolation and make the organised delivery of the many specialist services required, including health services, interpreter services and English language training, more difficult. Kosovar refugees have come from a war zone, are often traumatised, have immediate needs including medical screening, speak little or no English and need the security of family and familiar company. In grouping the refugees in reception centres with a capacity of between 50 and 150 clustered in areas (e.g. Cork/Kerry) we hope to facilitate the most efficient and effective delivery of the services required; to enable the refugees to have a support community of their own; to be as self-sufficient as possible and have the necessary degree of family privacy within the (self-catering) centres, and be located near to and become part of vibrant local communities, including the possibility of achieving training and employment.
We believe that, thanks to the enormous public support and sympathy for the Kosovar refugees, this refugee programme has got off to an excellent start. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Health Boards, local councils, public bodies and, above all, local communities and voluntary organisations throughout the country. - Yours, etc.,
John O'Neill, Director, Refugee Agency, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1.