Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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153. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the mechanism by which it is ensured that unaccompanied minors seeking international protection are not accommodated alongside those for whom age has not been verified. [28423/26]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The legal basis for undertaking age assessments for unaccompanied minors claiming international protection is set out under the International Protection Act 2015, and responsibility for such assessments lie with the Minister for Justice and the International Protection Office.

Section 14 of the International Protection Act 2015 is the main legislative provision underpinning referrals by immigration authorities to Tulsa for unaccompanied minors.

When Tusla receives such a referral, the 2015 Act requires Tusla to apply a presumption of minority for that applicant.

In order to fulfil its statutory responsibility to children in need of care and protection, Tusla has a role in undertaking an intake eligibility assessment for unaccompanied minors to determine if they require services from the separated children’s team.

Tusla has advised that it has established a specific, registered Children's Residential Centre to accommodate young people who are in the process of assessment to determine eligibility based on age, and this serves to minimise potential risk to children and young people. The centre is registered by Tusla's Alternative Care Inspection and Monitoring Service and is subject to ongoing assessment of compliance with ACIMS. Tusla has said that all children and young people residing in this service have a case worker assigned to them pending the completion of their eligibility assessment.

It is important to recognise that there has been a 500% increase in arrivals of Separated Children Seeking International Protection (SCSIP) entering the State since 2022, with the vast majority of arrivals aged 16 or 17 years of age.

This has impacted greatly on Tusla’s ability to provide accommodation and supports to unaccompanied minors entering Ireland seeking the protection of the State. As part of Budget 2026 Tusla SCSIP services has received an additional €51m for 2026 relating to projected increased costs for SCSIP residential placements, staffing and pay, forecast increase in arrivals and the requirements for supports and services in SCSIP accommodation centres. This brings the total funding received for 2026 to €153m.

In addition, I can advise that the Department is working with Tusla and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration on the International Protection Bill under the EU Migration Pact as it relates to unaccompanied minors, including work on provisions relating to age assessments. This will ensure that a robust age verification process is operated under the new legislation.

It is envisaged that the Bill shall provide for a robust and clear statutory framework for both the reception and placement of unaccompanied minors and the associated age assessment processes.