The first of a total group of 180 Iranian Kurds who have spent 25 years living in refugee camps have arrived in Ireland as part of a UN resettlement programme.
Minister for Justice Michael McDowell formally welcomed them to Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, yesterday, where they are undergoing language and orientation courses before taking up permanent residence in Leitrim and Dublin.
The refugees have lived in a series of temporary camps for the last two decades after fleeing Iran following the Islamic Revolution and war with Iraq in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Mr McDowell said that for the last three years the refugees had been confined to a military-style detention centre in the desert between Jordan and Iraq.
The 65-strong group which arrived here last week includes children and adults who have never known life outside refugee camps and are now preparing to adjust to living in the community.
Most of the group are due to take up residence in Carrick-on-Shannon, where some families have relatives who were resettled into Ireland last year.
Head of integration at the Department of Justice, John Haskins, said the community and support groups had already shown great support for the refugees.
"These are a different category of refugee to what most people are used to. They have come from extremely deprived backgrounds and need ongoing support and help in adjusting to life here. We need the help of a range of public services, as well as the community at large, as they try to adjust to life here," he said.
Mr Haskins also stressed that these refugees were not treated any differently to other refugees or Irish citizens and were not entitled to any special benefits or privileges.
The arrival of the group follows Mr McDowell's announcement last February that he would accept 180 Iranian Kurds from the Ruwayshid refugee camp in Jordan.
The 65-strong group is made up of 11 families with individuals ranging in age from two to 73 years of age.
Ireland is one of 18 countries worldwide, and one of only six EU member states, which is participating in the UN's resettlement programme. The State accepts 200 refugees a year under the programme.
