Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

On the last point, being under 12 is the strict cut-off point at which hostel accommodation is completely inappropriate. However, the vast majority of children in hostel-style accommodation are in the 16 to 17-year old age group. As for the care system, 24-hour care is provided for such children. Two project workers are located in each hostel and provide the highest standard of care for the children. In general, the development of policy in this area has been considerable in the past ten years. This issue has received high prioritisation. Much intergovernmental work has taken place, as has much work with statutory and non-statutory agencies, including the Garda, the Garda National Immigration Bureau and the Garda missing persons bureau regarding the sharing of information through all such groups.

This issue has attracted a high level of concentration on the Government's part. Although there has been a dramatic fall in numbers and although we know from our colleagues in Europe that many of the children who go missing simply are reuniting with families that already are here or else are going to other European countries, the reduction does not give us cause for complacency.

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