Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1038: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of former separated children seeking asylum, aged out minors who have been deported since 2006; the number who currently have pending deportation orders; the number who have been granted refugee status and permission to remain since 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19439/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Ireland as a matter of policy does not deport unaccompanied minors. A significant percentage of unaccompanied minors who present at the frontiers of the State subsequently join up with family members already present in the State and are therefore no longer considered to be unaccompanied minors.

In relation to former separated children/ aged out unaccompanied minors (i.e. those who have reached the age of 18), if they have no permission to remain in the State, they can be issued with a 'proposal to deport' letter under Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999.

Just under 40 such persons have been deported from the State since 2006. In addition, almost 280 additional Deportation Orders for such persons remain outstanding at present. It is believed that many of these persons will have already left the State.

In the period in question, over 30 such persons have been granted refugee status and just under 200 persons have been granted permission to remain in the State.