A coalition of groups and individuals working with immigrants in Cork will open a drop-in centre for asylum-seekers and refugees in the city early next month, one of those involved in the project confirmed yesterday.
Mr Piaras Mac Einri, a member of the returned development workers' group, Comhlamh, said premises had been made available by the Mercy Sisters and substantial financial support had also been offered by the Sisters and the Society of African Missions.
"The centre will provide a social space where asylum-seekers and refugees will feel welcome," said Mr Mac Einri, adding that the 40-strong group has appointed a co-ordinator, Mr Brendan Hennessy, to run the drop-in centre for the first six months of its operation.
The group includes Comhlamh and Immigrant Solidarity, which has been working with immigrants in Cork for the past two years. There are also a number of teachers and a small number of asylum-seekers from Nigeria, Angola, the Congo, Turkey and Kurdistan.
The group has appointed an eight-member ad-hoc steering committee to oversee the centre's first six months of operation. By the end of that period it is hoped that the centre will be established with full charity status, complete with patrons and trustees.
"We hope the centre will provide information on housing and education and specialist health services, including counselling, as well as specialist language services. We would hope to work with community groups to promote a better flow of information," said Mr Mac Einri.
He cited the issue of housing as one clouded in misunderstanding. Asylum-seekers, contrary to what many may think, are not eligible for local authority housing and thus are not in competition with Irish people for council or corporation houses, he explained.
Mr Mac Einri is also director of the Irish Centre for Migration Studies at University College Cork. He expressed hope that a forthcoming conference at the university on asylum-seekers and refugees would help promote better understanding among local communities.
Entitled "Asylum-Seekers and Refugees in Ireland: Fostering Regional Partnerships", the conference will look at a series of issues - legal, educational, psychological - as well as addressing ways to foster liaison between community groups and asylum-seekers and refugees.
The conference, next Monday, May 15th, will be officially opened by the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, and the keynote address will be given by Sister Leena Deevy, executive director of the Irish Immigration Centre in Boston, which provides support not just for new Irish arrivals to the US but also works with many immigrants from South America.
Anyone who wants further information on the conference can contact Piaras Mac Einri on (021) 902889 or e-mail the Irish Centre for Migration Studies at http://migration.ucc.ie
And anyone seeking information on the Irish Immigration Support Centre or anyone wishing to work as a volunteer with the centre can contact its co-ordinator, Brendan Hennessy, at (021) 903398.