Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 320: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of aged-out minors who are pending or likely to be deported within the next three months; if they will be treated as a special case within the asylum system in view of their vulnerable and unsure position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17012/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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All categories of persons in the asylum system, including so-called 'aged-out minors', have their asylum applications or applications for permission to remain temporarily in the State dealt with in a fair, comprehensive and humane manner. All persons,who, having failed the asylum process and subsequently apply to remain temporarily in the State, are dealt with having regard to all of the factors contained in Section 3 of the Immigration Act, 1999 (as amended) and Section 5 of the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended) on the prohibition of refoulement.

A total of 573 unaccompanied minors who have now reached the age of 18 years have been formally refused a declaration as a refugee. These persons received individual notifications under Section 3 (3) (a) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) informing them of the decision to refuse them such a declaration and setting out the options available to them i.e. to return voluntarily to their country of origin, to consent to deportation or to submit, within 15 working days, written representations setting out the reasons why they should not be deported. Of the 573 cases in question, 124 have been issued with deportation orders, 100 of whom are currently classified as 'evaders', 13 have been deported and the remaining 11 deportation orders have yet to be enforced. The enforcement of such orders is an operational matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).

All asylum claims and applications for temporary leave to remain in the State are considered on their individual merits and there is no 'catch all' policy for dealing with such applications.