I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 101 together.
In so far as the asylum process is concerned, the arrangements for unaccompanied minor asylum seekers in Ireland are governed by the provisions of section 8(5) of the Refugee Act, 1996. Section 8(5)(a) of the Act provides that “where it appears to an immigration officer or an authorised officer that a child under the age of 18 years, who has either arrived at the frontiers of the State or has entered the State, is not in the custody of any person, the officer shall, as soon as practicable, so inform the health board in whose functional area the child is and thereupon the provisions of the Child Care Act, 1991, shall apply in relation to the child”.
Section 8(5)(b) provides that “where it appears to the health board concerned, on the basis of information available to it, that an application for a declaration should be made by or on behalf of a child referred to in paragraph (a), the health board shall arrange for the appointment of an officer of the health board or such other person as it may determine to make an application on behalf of the child”. If the health board decides that an application for a declaration as a refugee should be made on behalf of an unaccompanied minor, the application will be dealt with as a matter of priority by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner.