THE FIRST GROUP of Afghan refugees to be accepted into Ireland have arrived into the country this evening. 

A family landed at Dublin Airport following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan with more expected to arrive over the coming weeks. 

The family’s arrival was officially confirmed in a statement tonight by the Department of Children. 

They are the first to enter the country under the the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) for Afghan nationals announced last week and were welcomed in a statement by the Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney and Minister of State for Law Reform, Youth Justice and Immigration, James Browne.

The Department of Children said tonight that the Government had issued more than 200 visas or visa waivers to Afghan nationals over the past week. 

“Priority has been given to those working on human rights issues, including the rights of women, girls, and minorities as well as those working with NGOs and European and international organisations,” a spokesperson said.

“Separately, the Department of Justice is also prioritising the processing of family reunification and visa applications for Afghan nationals, which is expected to result in a further approximately 150 people being granted permission to enter Ireland.”

Earlier, a Government spokesperson did not confirm if the first cohort to arrive would be brought to one of the State’s Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres (EROCs).

EROCs are used primarily to accommodate Syrian arrivals under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP).

The department’s statement tonight said that further information on the refugees would not be released due to “security reasons”.

Since the Taliban’s takeover the Department of Equality has been working closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs in order to identify suitable accommodation for refugees arriving into Ireland with more details expected over the coming days. 

It comes after a number of human rights organisations called on the Government last week to increase the number of resettlement places for Afghan refugees and to expedite international protection applications amid the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan. 

The Irish Refugee Council, Amnesty International and the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (Masi) among others said Ireland should commit to resettling a minimum of 1,000 Afghan refugees and to participate in a wider EU relocation scheme.