Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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35. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of unaccompanied minors that had been in the migrant camp in Calais that have come here; if work is ongoing to expand Tusla's capacity for this purpose; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30782/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I am happy to report to the Deputy that 22 children have arrived from France under the Calais Special Project. Aged between 13 and 17, they are all boys, and come from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Syria, and South Sudan. 20 are in care placements and 2 were reunited with family members.

The French authorities are responsible for identifying and nominating separated children seeking asylum who are eligible to participate in the Irish programme. The criteria for the programme, developed as a result of an all-party motion in November 2016, requires that separated children seeking asylum in Ireland were unaccompanied, living in a camp in or near Calais, were under 18 years of age and had an expressed wish to come to Ireland.

Social workers from the Tusla Social Work Team for Separated Children and members of the An Garda Síochána travelled to the locations where the children were accommodated, to conduct initial needs assessments and security checks. The children were then engaged in orientation activities in France and were accompanied to Ireland by staff from the International Organisation for Migration.

On arrival the children were granted refugee status by the Minister for Justice and Equality. Full intake assessments were completed by Tusla at this stage. All of the children were allocated a social worker, and were placed in residential settings while their care, educational and medical needs were assessed. To co-ordinate Tusla's role in this effort, Tusla established the Calais Special Project which is led by their Separated Children's Team. Additional resources were allocated for the assessment and care needs of the young people. The Team has expanded to include additional social workers, aftercare workers and administrative support. Tusla have opened three new residential units specifically for separated children, which means there are now a total of 7 units available to separated children. Tusla also continues to recruit and assess potential foster carers for this cohort of children. Tusla liaises closely with the HSE, the Education and Training Boards and other State bodies to address each young person's identified needs, including educational, psychosocial and health supports.

I wish to acknowledge that the Calais Special Project has received support and co-operation from national and international organisations and NGOs who have provided valuable information on young persons who expressed an interest in relocating to Ireland.