Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Just 72 hours ago I was standing in the Eleonas camp in Athens listening to children and families. Like many Deputies who visited the camps, I was deeply moved when talking to children, in particular small children - six and seven year olds - who were as fluent in English as they were in Arabic. Like me, I am sure no Deputy thought the sight of refugee camps on European soil would ever happen again in our lifetime, yet camps, both official and unofficial, now dot every part of the Continent. I mention my visit to Eleonas because the experience has made me more resolute in everything that we do.

In terms of children formerly resident in Calais, a memo will go to Government next week. I can confirm that officials under my Department in Tusla are working very hard on proposals and we are looking at a possible doubling in size of the unit in Tusla which deals with separated children seeking asylum. Deputies may be aware that this unit already has approximately 100 lone children who arrive in Ireland referred to it each year. Those are the kind of issues that will be addressed in the decision that will be taken at our final Cabinet meeting of the year.

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