Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

First, it is not correct to state that nothing has been done. The Deputy is correct to state that a number of unaccompanied children seeking asylum went missing. However, that figure has fallen dramatically in the last four or five years, from 66 in 2005, to 22 by the end of 2008. I believe the Deputy referred to 18 such children. The figure fell by two thirds during that period. While I acknowledge that the number of children who sought asylum also fell by half, the number of that went missing came down more dramatically.

No inspections per se are carried out in respect of hostels. However, the HSE is constantly in receipt of reports from project workers and insists on the highest standards of accommodation being provided in such hostels. Moreover, the HSE has made clear that from next month, it will move towards the phasing out of such hostel-style accommodation and will insist that younger children are cared for either in foster care or in residential children's homes. Certainly, no younger children are cared for in hostels. While older children are cared for in this way, we have two registered children's homes at present and hopefully will have four by the end of the year. We wish to treat all unaccompanied children seeking asylum in the same way as all children in the State are treated.

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