Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 Mar 2003

Vol. 563 No. 2

Written Answers - Asylum Applications.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

215 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of unaccompanied minors who were placed in the guardianship of each health board region each year for the past five years; if a survey has been completed on the adequacy of provision for them; if fosterage has been available as an option; if so, the number for whom fosterage was sought; and the number who availed of it in the case of each region in each year. [7510/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. B. Lenihan)

Information in relation to unaccompanied asylum seeking minors was not routinely collected by my Department prior to 2001. Information in relation to 2002 is currently being collected from the health boards. The position for 2001 is as follows:

Health Board	No. ofUnaccompaniedMinors coming tothe attention of theBoard	No. re-unitedwith Family	No. placedin Care ofHealth Board	No. Found Notto be a minor	Otherarrangementsmade
Eastern Regional Health Authority	1085	416	558	15	96
Midland	1	0	0	1	0
Mid-Western	1	0	0	0	1
North-Eastern	11	10	1	0	0

Health Board	No. ofUnaccompaniedMinors coming tothe attention of theBoard	No. re-unitedwith Family	No. placedin Care ofHealth Board	No. Found Notto be a minor	Otherarrangementsmade
North-Western	0	0	0	0	0
South-Eastern	5	0	1	0	4
Southern	48	19	0	16	13
Western	0	0	0	0	0
Total	1151	445	560	32	114

Information is collected on the number of all children placed in foster care. This information is not broken down to indicate the number of unaccompanied asylum seeking minors placed in foster care. However, the Eastern Regional Health Authority has indicated that eight unaccompanied minors were placed in foster care in 2001. A total of 96% of the unaccompanied minors in the care of the ERHA in 2001 were aged 15 years and over.