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

The Deputy's question last December referred to unaccompanied minors who are received into State care and remain in care until they are 18, whatever their placement type. Tusla is determined to provide a high level of service for unaccompanied children. In order to best meet their needs, all children on arrival in the State are placed in small residential assessment units so that social workers can get to know them and understand their needs. I visited one of these units with EU Commissioner Jourová and was very impressed with the facilities and services available and in meeting the young men there. The assessment period is usually in the range of six to eight weeks, but it can be shorter where preliminary work is carried out before the child arrives or where the child's the needs are not very complex. Assessments are wide ranging and take into account age, language, health and well being, cultural or religious requirements and evaluations of the child's emotional state and mental health. Tusla also tries to identify any family or relations with whom the child might be reunited.

As I noted previously, the equity of care principle that each child receives the same as any other child ensures that services focus on the needs of the child. The child will have a care plan developed to match identified needs. Unaccompanied minors, therefore, receive the same level of protection and care as any other child in State care. There is no differentiation of care provision, practices, care priorities, standards or protocols. Tusla's foster and statutory residential services are subject to inspection, including services for unaccompanied minors. If an unaccompanied minor is to remain in Tusla's care, a foster family will be considered if it is in the best interests of the child. Tusla arranges for training and support for foster families to address the child's cultural and religious identity. For some, however, it is likely that a residential setting may be better suited to meet the identified needs.

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