Our Resettlement programme supports individuals and families resettled in Ireland under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) and through complementary pathways such as humanitarian admission, family reunification, and Community Sponsorship.

Our goal is to help refugees settle safely, access services, and thrive in their new communities. We use a holistic, person-centred approach, working with both refugees and local communities to promote inclusion, empowerment, and long-term integration.

Areas of Work

Integration

• Our post-arrival needs assessments and the Cultural Orientation (CO) programme to help refugees understand Irish society, access services, and begin their new lives.
• Ongoing follow-up support and training after transfer to long-term accommodation nationwide.

Advocacy

• Guidance and support on key issues such as family reunification, housing, and access to rights and services.

Assistance and Support

• Direct services for refugees, especially in areas where local organisations are limited, ensuring immediate needs are met.

Research

• Monitoring resettlement trends and policies, drawing on international best practice to strengthen support in Ireland.

Training

Interpreting plays a crucial role in the asylum process, ensuring clear communication between applicants, asylum authorities, legal representatives, and other stakeholders. This work requires specialist knowledge of asylum procedures, terminology, and professional standards.

Interpreting plays a crucial role in the asylum process, ensuring clear communication between applicants, asylum authorities, legal representatives, and other stakeholders. This work requires specialist knowledge of asylum procedures, terminology, and professional standards.

Community Interpreter Training

Since 2016, the Irish Refugee Council has delivered training for bilingual speakers interested in working as interpreters in the asylum context. Courses have been provided for Arabic–English and French–English speakers.

What Participants Learn

• The asylum context and procedures
• The interpreter’s role, including ethics and boundaries
• Core interpreting principles and skills, with a focus on asylum settings
• International and national standards for professional interpretation