Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 271: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason a person (details supplied) was removed from Dublin and sent to Waterford on the person's 18th birthday in view of the fact that the person was receiving support and language tuition at a school in Dublin 1 where the person was a student in fifth year; if his attention been drawn to the fact that this person is not currently in school in Waterford and has no guarantee of further schooling; and if he will make a statement on the practice of removing foreign nationals from their location and school on their 18th birthday. [13611/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The person referred to in the question made an application for asylum on 21 February, 2008, was deemed an unaccompanied minor by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) and referred to the HSE which has responsibility for the care of unaccompanied minors under the Child Care Act, 1991. Where an unaccompanied asylum seeker minor in the care of the HSE reaches 18 years of age, he or she may be referred by the HSE to the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) for transfer to adult accommodation and service provision. In circumstances where the HSE deem such a person to be particularly vulnerable, the period in HSE care can be extended beyond 18 years of age at the HSE's discretion.

The RIA is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision and dispersal. In respect of persons referred to the RIA by the HSE at age 18, it is the RIA's policy to disperse such persons to centres outside Dublin, generally family centres which have established links to HSE services and NGO supports. The person concerned was referred to the RIA by the HSE and was dispersed in accordance with the policy outlined above. While it is not the policy of the RIA to give details of specific cases, I can confirm that the person concerned presented to RIA with no schooling requests.