The Government has identified 26 locations that will house the 4,000 refugees Ireland has agreed to take in.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said that 90 areas were identified as potential sites, with just 26 being deemed suitable by the Department.

The Irish Times reports that the sites are in Killarney, Kilkenny, Carlow, Cavan, Monaghan, Carrickmacross, Carrick-on-Shannon, Roscommon, Sligo, Ballina, Castlebar, Ennis, Limerick, Cork, Tralee, Thurles, Portlaoise, Tullamore, Waterford, Naas, Arklow and Mullingar. There are also sites in the four Dublin local authorities areas.

So far 129 refugees have arrived here this year from Lebanon and Jordan, with a further 62 from Syria due to arrive before the end of the year.

Political Reporter with the Irish Times Sarah Bardon says the minister has met with a number of different departments to prepare for the arrival of thousands of refugees.

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, Sarah explained that refugees arriving here will "go into an initial reception centre, and they'll stay there for eight to ten weeks.

"They'll be taught the language as much as they can, they'll be taught how to use euros, there'll be a bit of interaction with local communities. Then they'll be sent to their more permanent homes," she said.