Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 182: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of immigrant children who have gone missing while in the care of the State in 2004 and to date in 2005. [10067/05]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for unaccompanied minors seeking asylum.

I have been informed by the Health Service Executive that the number of unaccompanied minors who have gone missing while in the care of the State in 2004 and 2005 is as follows:

I share the Deputy's concerns regarding the welfare of these children and the Deputy may be interested to know that I recently sought a meeting with representatives of the Health Service Executive to discuss this very issue. This meeting will take place in the very near future.