Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy that the situation of unaccompanied minors is a distressing aspect of the ongoing migration crisis and there are concerns in this regard in many countries in Europe and elsewhere. While there is an acknowledged problem with the care of unaccompanied minors in parts of Greece, the Greek authorities are working with the UN High Commission for Refugees and UNICEF to provide appropriate facilities for unaccompanied minors. Since the EU-Turkey statement of 20 March this year, new arrivals on the islands, including unaccompanied minors, are taken to the hot spots where their claims can be assessed. If they are found to be admissible under the terms of the statement, they can be taken to centres on the mainland. Up to 500 asylum seekers have already been deemed admissible and moved to the mainland.

The Greek Government, working with the European Asylum Support Office, the UN High Commission for Refugees and other agencies, is currently conducting a mass pre-registration programme in the mainland refugee camps. They hope to pre-register all migrants who arrived in Greece prior to 20 March by the end of July. Once the pre-registration has taken place, the Greek Government will know where it stands in respect of the profile of all asylum seekers - age, family status, nationality, and special needs - and it will be able to devise appropriate responses, including and especially relating to the care and protection of unaccompanied minors.

Ireland has deployed seven rapid responders to Greece and the Balkans since mid-2015 through Irish Aid, our overseas development and humanitarian assistance programme managed by my Department. These experienced specialists continue to provide much needed surge capacity to our UN partners' refugee response operations on the ground, helping to improve both water supply and sanitation services in camps and other settings and the delivery of protection services to refugees, including unaccompanied minors. Three of our responders remain on deployment in Greece at this time.

See this speech in context