Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 April 2013
223. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has considered the recommendations of the recently published report by Barnardos and the Health Service Executive into separated children in foster care; if she will take these recommendations on board, in particular, to make increased provision for aftercare for aged out separated children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17932/13]
View answerI welcome the Barnardos report, which highlighted the significant improvements in service provision for separated children over the past number of years.
Separated children seeking asylum are deemed to be in need of care and protection under the Child Care Act, 1991 and are entitled to equity of treatment and rights as other children at risk. The immediate and ongoing needs of separated children seeking asylum (SCSA) as well as their application for refugee status are the responsibility of HSE in accordance with the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended) and the Child Care Act, 1991. Where children are identified by An Garda Síochána, at the point of entry, the circumstances are investigated and where concerns about the safety and welfare are identified, the child is placed into the care of the HSE. The number of separated children has fallen from 1085 in 2001 to 71 in 2012. Of those 71 children, 48 were placed in the care of the HSE.
The HSE has a national policy on the standards and services to be provided to separated children seeking asylum. The policy seeks to achieve equity and equality of services to separated children seeking asylum vis-à-vis all children at risk and to ensure that there is no differentiation of care provision, care practices, care priorities, stanards or protocols until the young person reaches 18 years.
Upon reaching 18 years, the HSE refers these young people to the Reception and Integration Agency of the Department of Justice and Law Reform for transfer to adult accommodation and service provision under the direct provision system.
The HSE and the RIA have an agreed policy in relation to the accommodation of separated children seeking asylum who reach the age of 18 years and there is regular liaison between the two agencies. I am advised by the Department of Justice that detailed discussions take place between the Separated Children's Team in the HSE and RIA, to ensure the best RIA centre match for the young adult concerned. RIA provides these young adults with full board and accommodation in a direct provision centre. In practice and with the agreement of the Department of Justice, the HSE has retained young adults in after care for various durations and in very exceptional circumstances, for example where there is severe disability or serious mental or physical health issues. In addition, the HSE is committed to ensuring continuity of care for all young people who are undertaking their leaving certificate and therefore interprets "18th birthday" as the end of a school year/leaving certificate year following their 18th birthday. Any change of placement would only be in exceptional circumstances and in the young person’s best interests.
The recommendations of the Barnardos’ report will be considered by my officials in the development of relevant policy.
