Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If I may just respond to the Deputy, in relation to 33 children missing, the whereabouts are unknown in relation to the 33. However, ten of them have actually been in contact. Ten out of the 33 have been in contact but their whereabouts are still not known, just to put it into perspective.

There is close co-operation between the Garda and Tusla. Operation Cosnaím was set up and, as part of same, all concerns of potential child sexual exploitation regarding a child who is in the care of Tusla, are notified to a centralised point in the Garda national protective services bureau. Operation Cosnaím is currently been reviewed and updated. The Department chairs a core group which includes the Department of Justice’s international protection office, Tusla, the International Protection Accommodation Service, and the child care performance and social work unit in the Department.

The Minister is continually working with colleagues in the relevant Government Departments and other State agencies to address and manage the risk and to meet the needs of this cohort of children and young people. Ireland has been accommodating increasing numbers of those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine and also international protection applicants, resulting in an unprecedented level of pressure on State services including Tusla’s residential, foster care, alternative care and social work services. The Department and Tusla work closely on the safeguarding framework for all children in care to ensure that it continues to be sufficiently robust to protect children from evolving risks.

It is important to note this issue, whereby young people seek international protection here and then reunite with their families afterwards. There are figures on that as well. Of the 33 who are reported missing, ten are in communication with the services. Tusla and the Garda work very closely together on identifying the location of any child who goes missing.

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