The Child and Family Agency, Tusla, has confirmed that the number of separated children seeking asylum who arrived in Ireland in the first six months of 2016 was 60 compared to 41 who arrived in the same period last year.
Separated children seeking asylum who arrive in Ireland are identified and referred to Tusla by an officer representing the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner or the Garda National Emigration Bureau as provided for under Section 8(5)(a) of the Refugee Act of 1996. All identified separated children are referred to the Tusla Team for Separated Children Seeking Asylum (TSCSA) which provides a range of services, including statutory care, family reunification and aftercare support. Once referred to TSCSA, the provisions of the Child Care Act, 1991 apply in relation to the child.
Upon referral to TSCSA, an intake assessment takes place which explores his/her identity, family, health issues, educational experience, journey to Ireland, significant pre-migration and migratory events, screening for trafficking indicators and identifying any possible Irish and/or EU resources, for example, family or social contacts and wider networks.
During the initial period of orientation, observation and assessment, children under the age of 12 are placed with foster families and children over the age of 12 are placed in dedicated children's residential units. The TSCSA has a number of foster carers specifically trained in the unique experiences and needs of unaccompanied children. A social worker, allocated to each separated child seeking asylum, has responsibility for the development and implementation of an individualised statutory care plan.
An "Absence Management Plan" is put in place for every child who comes into care. This Plan is a risk assessment tool in the event of a child going missing. The child is involved in drafting this plan and the dangers of going missing from care are highlighted and reassurance given that the service can help if they want to join relatives in a third country.
All cases of children missing from their placements are notified by TSCSA directly to An Garda Síochána as agreed in the " Joint Protocol between An Garda Síochána and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency ". A telephone report of a child missing from care must be followed by a Missing Child from Care Report Form including a recent, good quality photograph of the child. The TSCSA assesses if the child is at a level of risk of harm to warrant a nationally escalated alert.
