Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

In the short time that is available to me I wish to focus on unaccompanied children. There are shocking statistics on the number of unaccompanied children who have come to this country, many of whom have disappeared. A total of 503 vulnerable children have gone missing in State care since 2000, yet not a finger has been lifted to do anything about it. This year alone, 36 children have gone missing from State care. The Trafficking in Persons report indicated that the Government reported that a small number of missing children had been found in involuntary servitude in brothels, restaurants and domestic care. We are all shocked by such information. It is unacceptable that children in State care have been found in such situations.

The separated children's unit of the Health Service Executive revealed that 12 children stated they were trafficked into this country between 2000 and 2008 but it admitted that more than that number were trafficked for sex exploitation. In 2007 and 2008, a total of 26 Chinese children were taken into care, all of whom disappeared almost immediately. One can ask where those children are. Such children are vulnerable because of their young age. When doing my research, Madeleine McCann, the high profile missing child came to mind. Because her parents are constantly agitating they ensure her name remains in the media. However, in this country 26 Chinese children have gone missing, among many others. It is important that we focus in the debate on those statistics and realise what is going on right under our noses.

Accommodation for unaccompanied children seeking asylum varies in standard. In many cases it has been criticised and could do with improvement. Children aged between 12 and 16 go to one of two registered children's homes. Children aged less than 12 years should be taken into foster care. It is open to question whether that is the case. Foster homes are not inspected by HIQA as they are operated by non-statutory services. Riversdale House in Palmerstown is one of the two children's homes which was the subject of attention in the report, Trafficking in Persons. The report outlined that the size, layout and suitability of the premises for the purpose and function of the centre caused much discussion and debate throughout the inspection with all the relevant parties in agreement that it was not desirable to have 23 young people aged between 12 and 16 living together. The reason given for lack of alternative facilities was funding restrictions and lack of clarity as to which Department has full responsibility for separated children, the Department of Health and Children through the Health Service Executive or the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. That fact has been mentioned previously. The inspection found that the current provision is inadequate, as it does not provide sufficient care and protection for those vulnerable children.

In the time remaining I wish to focus on the lack of staff in the facilities, the quality of care and the fact that young boys and girls were mixed when they should have been in separate corridors. No supervision was in place. No response was made to two serious allegations about child protection concerns during the night. In the three years since the Riversdale home opened, a number of young people have gone missing. At the time of inspection nine of them were found elsewhere in the country or in the United Kingdom. Those were young people aged between 12 and 16 in the care of the State. That is another sad indictment of the child care services in the State. It behoves us all to address the issue and to recognise that young people in the care of the State are not receiving adequate care and attention.

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