Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)

First, the Minister and I want to take this opportunity to again express our sincere condolences to the family of Vadym Davydenko and everyone associated with his tragic death last Wednesday, 15 October.

The Minister acknowledges the interest of the Members of this House in issues surrounding unaccompanied minors from Ukraine. In particular, the Minister thanks Senator Keogan for raising the important issue of unaccompanied minors in the care of Tusla and in aftercare services.

Children in the care of the State are some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society. A priority for the Minister for children and Tusla is ensuring that all children in care have a place of safety. Tusla’s separated children seeking international protection, SCSIP, service provides a response to the needs of minors who present in Ireland unaccompanied by parents or caregivers, whether they are fleeing the war in Ukraine or otherwise seeking international protection. Tusla has seen a 500% increase in the arrival of unaccompanied minors since 2022, which has placed significant pressures on it and the State more generally.Tusla has reported that since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, it has received 879 referrals in relation to children and young people from Ukraine and it has provided care and accommodation for 777 children under the Childcare Act 1991. Tusla has advised that since the commencement of the war in Ukraine, 432 Ukrainian young people have aged out and are no longer in the care of or accommodated by the agency. The agency has also informed the Department of children that it has provided continuing support to five young people from Ukraine who are over 18. However, this does not amount to the provision of a statutory aftercare service. Young people who become adults, are beneficiaries of temporary protection and transition into accommodation under the international protection accommodation service receive a range of supports in line with other beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine. The Department of children continues to engage with Tusla and the Department of justice on the implications of the EU Migration Pact through engagement on the development of the international protection Bill which has been brought forward by my colleague, the Minister for justice. This important legislation will impact on the manner in which unaccompanied minors are dealt with in the State. It should be noted that the specific circumstances of young people arriving from Ukraine are always taken into account when deciding on the type of care and accommodation offered to them. These circumstances can include whether they have family already here, their age, their language skills and their assessed needs.

I would like to share with this House a number of developments that the Department of children and Tusla continue to progress in this area. Tusla is undertaking a strategic review of the purpose and function of its separated children seeking international protection service to include a plan for improved governance in a new accommodation strategy, data management strategy and workforce plan. It has developed a new model of care for this service to offer care and protection to these young people and to integrate them into Irish life. Finally, Tusla has established a national steering group for the service through which it can engage with relevant organisations including non-governmental organisations on issues that most affect this vulnerable cohort.