Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has examined the difficulties facing aged-out non-Irish minors who have applied for leave to remain here; his plans to address the cases of the relatively small number of persons in theses circumstances who wish to continue making a contribution to society here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35754/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I refer the Deputy to the reply I gave to Parliamentary Question No. 61 on Thursday, 20 October 2005. A total of 413 unaccompanied minors, who have now reached the age of 18 years, have been refused refugee status since 1 January 1999. Some 211 of these have been decided to date under section 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended resulting in 108 deportation orders, 72 grants of conditional leave to remain under the Irish born child scheme 2005, eight grants of temporary leave to remain on other grounds, seven voluntary returns, three grants of residency under family reunification, four grants of residency under marriage to an Irish national, six grants of residency under EU treaty rights, two subsequently became EU nationals on 1 May 2004 and one is deceased. The remaining 202 cases have yet to be considered by me.

There is no catch all policy be it to deport, or allow to remain in relation to unaccompanied minors who have reached the age of 18 years. All such cases will continue to be considered on their individual merits.