24 refugees arrive at former hotel in Kildare

More than 20 refugees, a significant proportion of them young children, displaced by the Syrian conflict, arrived at a former hotel in Co Kildare on Tuesday morning.

The Department of Justice confirmed 24 "programme refugees" had been brought by coach to the Hazel Hotel in Monasterevin, where they will join four adults who have been there since the end of August.

They arrived shortly before lunchtime and will stay there for three to four months before being resettled elsewhere in the State.

A total of 100 refugees are expected here by the end of the month. The majority will come in family units.

The former hotel has been commissioned by the Department of Justice as an "orientation centre" for 520 programme refugees who will arrive from camps in Lebanon between now and the end of next year.

During their stay, they will receive any necessary medical attention and will be offered English classes.

As they complete their orientation in the town they will leave and their places will be taken by a new cohort.

There was considerable activity at the hotel on Tuesday, which is located on the main road, on the outskirts of the town. Officials from the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration were on site.

Painters and decorators could also be seen arriving, while a van delivering high-chairs arrived around lunchtime.

In the Barrow Close housing estate, across road from the hotel, residents said it was “good” refugees would be starting new lives as their neighbours.

“Of course,” said one man in his 50s. “Everyone has to live somewhere. Everyone has to feel safe.”

“It’s good we’re helping them out,” said a younger woman.

Another neighbour, who gave her name as Colette, wondered “what’s here for them?” There was “nothing in this town for families,” she said.

“There is a little park, but there’s not even a sweet-shop. There’s nothing to do if you don’t have a car. If you were to try and walk in either direction out of that hotel, it’s a main road, it’s a danger.”

In the town people were positive about the prospect of several hundred new, temporary residents. Mary Seery, owner of second-hand shop River House, had been up to the hotel earlier.

“They said they needed children’s car seats, booster seats and buggies. I have no problem with them coming. I am sure they will be good people, who will want to work and contribute. Sure look at the Irish and the Famine. Didn’t we walk the roads long enough?”

The hotel had been “inundated” with offers of donations, and people wanting to make the arrivals feel welcome, a department spokesman said – so much so that an independent NGO, the Kildare Volunteer Centre in Newbridge has been tasked to co-ordinate offers of help from the public.

Mick Power, manager at the centre, said it could no longer take donations of clothes, but they would “gladly accept” buggies, baby car seats, children’s books and toys in good condition, but not soft toys, “for safety and hygiene reasons”.

“We also run a befriending service which people can get involved with. They will have to be Garda vetted and undergo an brief training course.”

A Hazel Refugee Support account has been opened, overseen by the Kildare Volunteer Centre, to which people can donate.

The account number is 24404827 and the sort code is 90-12-63.