Written answers
Wednesday, 25 January 2006
Department of Health and Children
Children in Care
8:00 pm
Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 440: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of unaccompanied minors who arrived here in each of the past five years; the care arrangements for these children; if foster-care is provided; the numbers who have gone missing in each of these years and the outcome of each case; if she has satisfied herself that Ireland is meeting its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in respect of the nature of these care arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2157/06]
Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
Ireland submitted the second state report to the UN Committee on the Convention on the Rights of the Child in August 2005. The report sets out the provisions made in the State for such children. A copy of the report will be made available to the Deputy.
I also advise the Deputy that the Health Service Executive commissioned a review of services provided to separated children seeking asylum or unaccompanied minors in 2005. I have received a copy of this report which is under examination in my office and I have asked that an interdepartmental working group be established to consider the issues involved.
Furthermore, on 7 December 2005 my office met the social services inspectorate and the HSE to discuss the issue of accommodation standards for unaccompanied minors. It was agreed at that meeting that the standards for children in residential care will apply to accommodation for unaccompanied minors aged 16 and under. The same standards will apply, subject to guidance notes which are being drafted by the SSI in consultation with the HSE, to accommodation for those aged 17 to 18.
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