Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

498. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of unaccompanied minors in the State; the number of which are under the care of Tusla; and if a breakdown will be provided on nationality of each. [8155/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

499. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 9 February 2023, if he will provide a definition or more detail on what is meant by special emergency accommodation. [8156/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

500. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the presence in the State of unaccompanied minors who are not under the care of Tusla, (details supplied); if there is a figure for the number of minors in that category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8157/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Statutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. All unaccompanied minors who arrive in Ireland via ports of entry are referred to Tusla by immigration authorities.

With reference to the article in the ‘details supplied’ section of this question, on 10th May 2022, Tusla became aware of the arrival of an organisation (Candle of Grace Charity) at Dublin Airport with a number of children travelling without their parents, but with other adults. As is Tusla's policy in responding to all children arriving in Ireland without a parent or guardian, Tusla social workers conducted screening assessments with the children after their arrival. The appropriate follow-up actions were taken, including contacting the children’s parent(s) where possible.

All of these children entered the country with the full knowledge and consent of their parents. Those that remain from that cohort are in host families and are in regular contact with their parents. Where young people may become unaccompanied following entry to Ireland, local Tusla areas carry out assessments to ensure a care arrangement is put in place to keep them safe and promote their welfare as per Tusla's statutory responsibilities.

With regards to the figure for the number of minors in that category, there were 59 minors out of the original group of 113. These 59 were not with a blood relative but were under the care and supervision of an adult within this group, and this arrangement was put in place by Candle of Grace and the Department of Education in Ukraine, and with the agreement of parents.

There are nine children that remain in Ireland from the original group of fifty-nine. Fifty children have returned home to Ukraine on request of their parents.

In May 2022, and given the issues arising from the Ukraine crisis, it was noted that the EU changed definitions in relation to separated children and unaccompanied minors to differentiate between children travelling completely alone and children travelling with adults other than their parent or guardian.

A separated child is a child who arrives on the territory of the Member States unaccompanied by an adult responsible for him or her whether by law or by the practice of the Member State concerned (thus separated from an adult responsible), but who arrive accompanied by other relatives or known (non-related) adults, including when those relatives or known (non-related) adults have been provided by the parent(s) an authorization to travel with /care for the child (e.g. Ukrainian mother traveling with her own children and those of another family, children who cross the EU border alone but are taken in charge by known adult inside the EU).

Unaccompanied Minor means 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 whether by law or custom.