Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

16. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the plans in place to provide care and protection to incoming refugee children from war torn areas, as agreed under the European Union recommendations, where the children's welfare and safety are identified as a concern. [42690/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Incoming refugee children can arrive in Ireland either accompanied by their parents or customary care providers or unaccompanied. My colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, has primary responsibility in the area of asylum and immigration, including direct provision. My Department’s policy responsibility for the refugee children arriving with their parents relates to providing family support and care and protection for any child where a concern is identified for their welfare and safety.

Children living in Direct Provision are in the care of their parent(s). Where there are concerns about their welfare, safety or well-being this should be referred to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, in line with Children First guidelines. Tusla works closely with the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of the Department of Justice and Equality, regarding issues which impact on the ongoing welfare and protection of children living in direct provision. Tusla has appointed identified lead social workers to liaise with managers of direct provision regarding support and information for newly arrived residents. There are a range of family support type provision, and early years education in direct provision centres. Additionally there are supports provided by the HSE and the Department of Social Protection.

Separated Children Seeking Asylum are placed in the care of the State, with Tusla. Following a residential assessment, the majority of separated children are placed in foster care and Tusla has a dedicated Social Work team to deal with this vulnerable cohort. The State is duty bound by international and domestic law to protect and provide for separated children in the same way as it does for children normally resident in the State. A social worker is allocated to each separated child and they have responsibility for the development and implementation of an individualised statutory care plan for the child. Tusla maintains the equity and equality of services to separated children vis a vis other children in state care and ensures that there is no differentiation of standard care provision, care practices, care priorities, standards or protocols. All foster care organisations and residential centres are inspected against national standards.

In relation to minors arriving unaccompanied under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme, my Department and Tusla have been in contact with the Department of Justice and Equality to ensure all support services are identified, and to ensure the necessary attention and support is given to their needs on their arrival into Ireland.