Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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213. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the plans being drawn up, and the resources allocated, to ensure that children coming from Calais are properly cared for when they arrive here, including but not limited to extra resources being allocated to Tusla. [36488/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Under the Child Care Act, 1991 and the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended) the responsibilities of the State are set out in relation to the care needs of separated children who seek asylum in the State. Where separated children are identified by An Garda Síochána, at the point of entry, their circumstances are investigated and the provisions of the Child Care Act, 1991, apply, i.e. the child is placed into the care of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.

Separated Children Seeking Asylum (SCSA) are defined as “children under eighteen years of age who are outside their country of origin, who have applied for asylum and are separated from their parents or their legal/customary care giver”. These children are a vulnerable cohort and the State is duty bound by international and domestic law to protect and provide for separated children in the same way as children normally resident in the State.

I have asked Tusla to review its ability to provide for additional numbers of separated children, and this includes the assessment of the resources that may be needed. Any decisions regarding resources will be made in this context.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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214. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if contact has been made with the relevant volunteer organisations working on the ground in Calais, including the Refugee Youth Service; and if the Irish authorities are currently working with them in monitoring the welfare of the children, assessing the best interests of the children and helping to identify those children who have expressed a wish to come here in order that their transition here can be actioned forthwith. [36489/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The All Party Dáil motion, approved by Government on 10 November last, called on the Government to work with the French authorities, to identify up to 200 unaccompanied minors previously living in the unofficial migrant camp in Calais, and who have expressed a desire to come and stay in Ireland. The motion further states that any requests from France for assistance in this regard must be considered in accordance with national and international law.

In order to implement the motion a number of Departments are required to work together and to coordinate their efforts.

I understand that the Department of Justice and Equality has sought the advice of the Attorney General's Office in relation to this matter. In addition, the State is seeking to ascertain the identity of those unaccompanied minors formerly in Calais who had expressed a wish to relocate to Ireland.

I am sure that the Deputy appreciates that the unaccompanied minors concerned are now dispersed in numerous centres throughout France. It is understood that there are ongoing contacts between the French and UK authorities in relation to the unaccompanied minors who may be accepted by the UK. The situation that now presents itself is an extremely complex one with many actors, both State and non-State, involved. We are attempting to work through the issues concerned as expeditiously as possible having regard to the resource limitations which currently exist.