Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This question has been discussed on previous occasions. What Ireland can do in these circumstances and whether it can take in more unaccompanied minors in response to what is a crisis of huge dimension is an important issue. Tusla, the child and family agency, under the auspices of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, has statutory responsibility for unaccompanied minors. I understand that my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, recently chaired a meeting of the high-level task force established to oversee the implementation of the Irish refugee protection programme, during which an approach to taking in unaccompanied minors, most likely to come from Greece, was discussed in some detail. The task force is designed to deliver a whole-of-government response to the crisis. Following this meeting, the question of an intake of unaccompanied minors under the programme is being considered by Tusla and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. I am informed that high-level contacts are ongoing between the Departments of Justice and Equality and Children and Youth Affairs and Tusla with a view to progressing Ireland's response to this issue.

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