Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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256. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of minors who have sought asylum after they arrived unannounced at ports or airports from 2011 to date; the ages of the applicants; the outcomes of such applications for asylum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28072/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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TUSLA, the Child and Family Agency has statutory responsibility for the care of any unaccompanied minors in the State. If an unaccompanied minor indicates that they wish to apply for international protection, they are referred to TUSLA, either by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) at the airport/port of entry, or by staff at the International Protection Office (IPO) of my Department.

TUSLA will then conduct a Best Interest of the Child assessment. Only after that assessment has been completed and it is decided that it is in the best interest of the child, will they bring the unaccompanied minor to the IPO to make an application on their behalf. Specific arrangements will be made by the IPO in conjunction with TUSLA for the processing of the application. TUSLA will support the minor throughout the process, including attending at their interview.

All applications for international protection made on behalf of unaccompanied minors are prioritised by the IPO for processing, and the IPO has specially trained caseworkers to process these applications.

The table below sets out the number of applications for asylum (2011 – 2016 inclusive) and for international protection (2017 – end August 2020) made by TUSLA - Child and Family Agency on behalf of unaccompanied minors.

The figures above may be subject to data cleansing.

Final decisions in respect of unaccompanied minors for a protection status for the years 2011 - 2020 (end August) are set out in the table below.

*These figures relate to the year in which the decision was made and not to the year in which the application was made.