Ms Nuala Ward:

That question is timely. We have written to and are due to meet Tusla - the Child and Family Agency, which has responsibility for these children. We had flagged in recent years that we had concerns in regard to unaccompanied minors arriving into Ireland. In particular, as members may be aware, they come into State care but when they turn 18 and if they are not still in education, the vast majority transfer into the direct provision system. We had very serious concerns about that. We also had concerns about vulnerability assessments which are required to be done for unaccompanied minors under the recast directive, and we had raised that with Tusla previously in recent years.

Our meeting on Thursday is about a range of issues, including the issue raised by the Deputy. We want to be assured. We want to know we are meeting all of our international obligations towards these children. We also want to be assured they are safe, that they are being looked after and that they are being accommodated in places that are subject to inspection and regulation, like any other child arriving into Ireland without a guardian or parent, or, indeed, children coming into State care. That is what we are meeting about on Thursday. We are looking forward to the meeting and we are hoping that, afterwards, we will be able to answer very comprehensively that we are meeting our obligations and looking after these children appropriately.