A new Irish Refugee Protection Programme, including special reception centres to process arrivals, is being set up to deal with Europe's refugee crisis.
The scheme will cost around 12 million euro per year, for every 1,000 refugees housed in Ireland.
Tanaiste Joan Burton says in addition to the 4-thousand figure, other members of refugees' families may also be brought to Ireland at a later date.
“But in addition to that…we will have a process of family reunification where that's appropriate, and obviously we don't have a total estimate on those numbers” she said.
“But in previous programmes, they are significant”.
“So in fact the original figure has increased” dhe added.
Centres will now be established around the country, with offers from a number of groups including the defence forces and religious orders.
Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald says assessments of refugee status will be done at these centres and they will be prioritised.
“We will establish a number of refugee reception centres around the country, and the refugee assessment will be done in those centres” she said.
“It will be a priority initiative to make sure that that assessment is done quickly and efficiently” she added.
