Safe Haven – The Needs of Refugee Children Arriving in Ireland through the Irish Refugee Protection Programme: An Exploratory Study

Ireland has had a formal refugee resettlement scheme in operation since 2000 in association with the UNHCR, however the establishment of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) has brought about a significant and rapid increase in Irish resettlement and relocation operations. There is growing recognition of the need for more planning and a clearer national policy to support this increase. The exploratory research presented in this report examines the situation of children and young people admitted under the IRPP. While not an evaluation of the programme, it adds to the evidence base to support the ongoing development of the Irish resettlement model and in particular to improve the experiences of refugee children in Ireland.