Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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213. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children currently residing in special emergency arrangements under Tusla; and the number of whom are separated children/unaccompanied minors. [41859/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As this relates to data collated by Tusla, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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214. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an issue with school children of refugee status leaving the care of Tusla (details supplied) will be urgently examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41882/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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A young person, upon reaching the age of 18 and who has been in State care is deemed to have left care. Care leavers who have spent 12 months in care between the age of 13-18 are eligible for aftercare supports. Further, a young person’s time spent in accommodation provided under section 5 of the Child Care Act 1991 can form part of those 12 months care experience but where this is the sole care experience the young person is not eligible for full aftercare supports.

All eligible care leavers are supported through aftercare services provided by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Care leavers, depending on need, may be allocated an aftercare worker, and all care leavers, without exception or age limit, can attend drop-in centres organised by the Tusla aftercare service.

Young people who have had a care history with Tusla are entitled to an aftercare service based on their eligibility and assessed needs. This assessment considers a number of factors including the young persons educational and accommodation needs. The Child Care Act (Amended) 1991 sets out that where Tusla is providing assistance to a person in accordance with an aftercare plan by arranging for the completion of education and by contributing to maintenance while completing education, and that person attains the age of 21 years, Tusla may continue to provide that assistance until the completion of the course of education or the end of the academic year during which the person attains the age of 23, whichever is the earlier.

Tusla has advised that young people in the care of the Agency with International Protection status are, in the main, fully supported to complete secondary education. In circumstances wherein a young person is placed in foster or supported lodgings care, they will continue to be supported in their current placement until the completion of their secondary education, if they are in their final school year. If they are not in their final year of secondary education, they will be supported to identify a placement that supports the continuation/conclusion of their education.

Tusla has informed that if young people turn 18 in children’s residential units, efforts are made to identify a placement that supports the continuation/conclusion of their education. This often involves seeking a short extension of the young person’s placement to identify same.

I can inform the Deputy that if a young person is briefly accommodated by the Agency and has International Protection Status, but does not meet the eligibility criteria for aftercare, the Agency will liaise with other stakeholders to support the young person’s transition from care.

If reunification is not possible and a young person turns 18, the Tusla team for Separated Children Seeking International Protection is entitled to make a referral to my Department’s International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) for accommodation.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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215. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children under the care of Tusla in secondary education who hold refugee status and who are due to turn 18 years-of-age during this school term; if Tusla can indicate what measures/plans are in place to support these individuals to remain in full-time education after turning 18 years-of-age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41883/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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As this relates to data collated by Tusla, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy. Additionally the Deputy may wish to view the latest available data published on .