Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 162: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the Government policy regarding child protection and family support in respect of asylum seeking families; if a case worker is appointed where issues of child protection arise; if that case officer continues to deal with the case if the family is separated to different parts of the country; if such a separation has a fixed review date; if there are clear protocols for dealing with requests for family reunification when it is appropriate to do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10243/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, through the Reception and Integration Agency, is responsible for providing accommodation and services to asylum seeking families. Where a child protection issue arises within these arrangements, the Child Protection Policy for Accommodation Centres, which I launched in October of last year, is implemented and a referral is made to the Health Service Executive. Under the provisions of the Child Care Act 1991 the Health Service Executive is responsible for promoting the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection and, if necessary, the placing of these children in the care of the State.

Accordingly, my Department has transferred the Deputy's question to the parliamentary affairs division of the executive and has asked it to issue the Deputy with a detailed reply to the specific matters he has raised which are of an operational matter.