Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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There is an important distinction between unaccompanied minors seeking asylum and separated children that arrive in Ireland seeking refuge. An 'unaccompanied minor' refers to third-country nationals or stateless persons below the age of eighteen, who arrive on the territory of the Member States unaccompanied by an adult responsible for them.

A 'separated child' is someone under 18 years of age who is outside their country of origin and separated from both parents or their previous legal / customary primary caregiver, but may arrive with other relatives or known (non-related) adults, including when those relatives or known adults have been provided with authorisation to travel with or care for the child.

In 2022, to date, 380 unaccompanied minors have been referred to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.

Since the commencement of the war on Ukraine on 25th February, 175 unaccompanied minors from Ukraine have been referred to Tusla.

In the first instance, Tusla makes every attempt to contact relatives of the child and to reunite the child with family members or friends. If children cannot be reunified with family or friends, they are either received into the State care, or, if older and in line with their needs, are fully supported by Tusla in having an appropriate placement, education and other assistance.

There are currently 64 unaccompanied minors from Ukraine in Tusla's care, and 105 children from all other countries.

Unaccompanied minors seeking asylum, including children arriving from the Ukraine, are supported and accommodated by Tusla, in accordance with the provisions of the Child Care Act 1991.

Tusla has a specialist social work team for unaccompanied minors seeking asylum and separated children, which is referred to as the Separated Children Seeking International Protection Team (SCSIP). Over the past 20 years the SCSIP Team has developed expertise through Ireland’s participation in International Refugee Protection Programmes and by caring for unaccompanied minors seeking asylum who arrive unannounced at Irish ports, including airports.

Tusla has a significant role, as part of the State’s overall response, to support individuals, particularly women and children, displaced from Ukraine, as a result of the war and coming into Ireland. Tusla is committed to balancing the needs of families in a humanitarian crisis, with its child protection responsibilities, and requirement to support families and promote the welfare of children.

On arrival, separated children from Ukraine are referred to the Tusla specialist social work team for a screening assessment, to confirm their care arrangements. A review of documentation is undertaken to establish if parental consent or other relevant information is available. Where no immediate child protection or welfare concern is identified, the separated child and accompanying adults may travel to their intended destination. A local Tusla social work office will follow up and visit the child and include translator services as required.

Unaccompanied minors seeking asylum, who arrive at ports of entry to Ireland, are referred to Tusla for a child protection needs assessment. These children are placed by Tusla either in small specialist residential care centres, or with specifically recruited foster carers under the Fáilte Care project. Social Workers and social care workers are allocated to support and monitor the progress of the child or young person. The care plan may involve specialist English language tuition, intensive educational supports and therapeutic work in respect of trauma.

Children who arrive in Ireland outside of a dedicated refugee programme are supported in their application for refugee status.

Assisting children with reunification with their families has evolved as a key piece of the support social workers provide to those who are eligible to apply for refugee status. Where relevant, the process of reunification is started as soon as the children come to the attention of Tusla.