Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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325. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the French Government has vowed to destroy the so-called jungle camp in Calais; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the camp is home to thousands of person, including hundreds of unaccompanied minors; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that thousands of unaccompanied minors have already gone missing in Europe due to the refugee crisis; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the destruction of this camp will likely increase this number; and if he has discussed the issue with his French counterpart. [28563/16]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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326. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if any official from his Department has been in touch with volunteers or aid workers who work in the jungle camp in Calais, many of whom are Irish. [28564/16]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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329. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he or his officials have raised concerns regarding the welfare of children and other vulnerable persons in Calais with the French and European Union authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28568/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 325, 326 and 329 together.

The case of unaccompanied minors is a very distressing aspect of the ongoing Migration crisis and the situation in Calais is particularly so.

According to French estimates there are some 7,000 migrants living in the Calais area. Of these, 900 are estimated to be unaccompanied minors. On a visit to Calais on 26th September, President Hollande announced the definitive closure of the Camp and the redistribution of its inhabitants to centres throughout France. The President described the planned closure as a “full and final” dismantlement which will be completed by the end of this year.

The French Government is to provide for 9,000 places in the centres throughout the country. Migrants will be offered the chance to apply for asylum in France, and those who do not qualify will be sent home. For unaccompanied minors, there will be specific accommodation arrangements.

President Hollande said that the objectives of these actions are to “guarantee the security of the people of Calais, to maintain public order and to ensure for the migrants and refugees that conditions are dignified”.

It should be noted that persons who are currently in another EU Member State - including those in the camps in Calais - and who are in need of international protection, are entitled to make an application for asylum in that country, should they wish to do so.

The Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) was established by Government Decision on 10 September 2015 as a direct response to the humanitarian crisis that developed in Southern Europe as a consequence of mass migration from areas of conflict in the Middle East and Africa. In announcing the IRPP, the Government recognised the importance of prioritising family groups and in addressing the position of unaccompanied children. A significant number of those who have arrived to date are children with one or two parents. With regard to unaccompanied minors Ireland has formally indicated to Greece its desire to accept unaccompanied minors under the relocation mechanism and we now have a commitment from the Greek authorities that Ireland will be receiving the first group of unaccompanied minors later this year.

Matters relating to Asylum and Refugees in Calais are a matter for France in the first instance, acting in conformity with applicable EU agreements and processes, and I have confidence in the French authorities to manage this issue.

Of course I share the concerns expressed by Deputies in relation to unaccompanied minors as an especially vulnerable group.