Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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42. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if, in view of the unfortunate record of treatment of some unaccompanied minors and young asylum seekers, she has satisfied herself that the care system for these most vulnerable young persons is appropriate and up to international best practice. [33522/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has operational responsibility for accommodating and caring for unaccompanied minors who arrive into Ireland. Unaccompanied minors are a vulnerable cohort and the State is duty bound by international and domestic law to protect and provide care. Under Tusla’s Equity of Care principle, unaccompanied minors who arrive in this jurisdiction are placed in State care provided by Tusla. The Equity of Care principle ensures that unaccompanied minors receive the same level of protection and care as any other child in State care, and ensures that there is no differentiation of care provision, care practices, care priorities, standards or protocols.

When a child arrives into Ireland without their parents or customary care providers, contact is made with Tusla’s dedicated Social Work Team for Separated Children Seeking Asylum (SCSA) and the child is placed in the care of the State.Each unaccompanied minor is allocated a social worker. They are accommodated initially in one of three short term residential intake units while they continue their needs assessment, including health, educational and language needs. Following this time in the children’s residential centre, children are then placed according to their needs. The majority of unaccompanied minors are placed with registered foster carers or supported lodgings carers.

Over the past five years, Tusla has taken an average of 100 referrals of unaccompanied children seeking asylum per year. So far this year there have been 104 unaccompanied children referred to Tusla services.

All foster care organisations and statutory residential centres are inspected by the Health Information & Quality Authority (HIQA), and private and voluntary residential centres are inspected by Tusla against national standards. The inspection reports are published on the respective websites. Children First (2011) applies to unaccompanied minors, and all persons employed full-time or part-time by Tusla are vetted by An Garda Síochána as a matter of standard practice, as are those employed by the appointed interpretation service.

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 is then referred to Tusla, in line with Children First guidelines.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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43. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the provisions her Department is putting in place to deal with unaccompanied refugee minors coming here; the preparations her Department is making for additional unaccompanied minors; and the services available to these children who are coming here with significant levels of trauma. [33536/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I have asked Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to review its ability to provide safety, protection and hope to greater numbers of unaccompanied children, and to assess the additional resources that may be needed. This work is ongoing. Options to expand our existing emergency and humanitarian supports, and longer term care needs, for these young people who have no family or relatives form part of this review. I have recently held discussions with Tusla, the Immigrant Council and Cabinet colleagues to review this country's response to the overall migrant crisis, including recent events in Calais.

Over the past five years, Tusla has taken an average of 100 referrals of unaccompanied children seeking asylum per year, with approximately 70 of these being received into care annually. So far this year there have been 104 unaccompanied children referred to Tusla services and 58 remain in care. Approximately 30% of children referred are reunited with family members or found to be over 18 years of age.

Under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme, Tusla has made an initial commitment to relocating 20 unaccompanied minors from refugee camps in Greece in 2016/17. Staff have visited centres in Greece and are currently in Athens to continue the intake process for unaccompanied young people aged 16 and 17 years who have indicated a desire to be brought to Ireland. Resources of €2.4 million have been set aside to look after their needs.

Unaccompanied minors are a vulnerable cohort and the State is duty bound by international and domestic law to protect and provide care. Under Tusla’s Equity of Care principle, unaccompanied minors who arrive in this jurisdiction are placed in State care provided by Tusla. The Equity of Care principle ensures that unaccompanied minors receive the same level of protection and care as any other child in State care, and ensures that there is no differentiation of care provision, care practices, care priorities, standards or protocols.

When a child arrives into Ireland without their parents or customary care providers, contact is made with Tusla’s dedicated Social Work Team for Separated Children Seeking Asylum (SCSA) and the child is placed in the care of the State and provided with support.An intake assessment takes place which explores his/her identity, family, health issues, educational experience, journey to Ireland, significant pre-migration and migratory events as well as identifying any possible Irish and/or EU resources, for example, family or social contacts and wider networks. Unaccompanied minors are allocated a social worker who develops and implements a statutory care plan. This plan identifies trauma and other mental health problems and how these should be addressed by State services.

These children are accommodated initially in one of three short term residential intake units while they continue their needs assessment, including health, educational and language needs. Following this time in the children’s residential centre, children are then placed according to their needs. The majority of unaccompanied minors are placed with registered foster carers or supported lodgings.