Both I and my Department takes very seriously the role it has in protecting the best interests and welfare of unaccompanied minors arriving at ports of entry, in the international protection process and the wider immigration system.
The information sought by the Deputy with regard to the number of unaccompanied minors (UM) who arrived at Dublin Airport and indicated they wished to register as Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) or wished to apply for International Protection (IP) is set out in the following table.
All unaccompanied people under the age of 18 who arrive at Dublin Airport are managed in the first instance with a focus on child safeguarding. Any person suspected of being an unaccompanied minor is referred by immigration officials to the Child and Family Agency (Tusla).
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
2024 (end of March)
|
IP UM
|
50
|
18
|
26
|
97
|
70
|
12
|
BOTPs UM
|
|
|
|
165
|
127
|
23
|
Total
|
50
|
18
|
26
|
262
|
197
|
35
|
The table may include people that were subsequently deemed to be adults following referral to Tusla.