Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 July 2018
204. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of the up to 200 children Ireland agreed to take from the now dismantled Calais camp that have arrived and settled here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31905/18]
View answerIn a gesture of humanitarian assistance towards some of the most vulnerable caught up in the migration crisis, the Dáil, in November 2016, passed an all-party motion committing Ireland to taking up to 200 unaccompanied minors from France who were previously resident in the migrant camp at Calais under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme.
Following the adoption of the all-party motion, my colleague the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs established the Calais Special Project within Tusla (The Child and Family Agency). The project was led operationally by their Separated Children Seeking Asylum team.
Following 13 Tusla missions to France, a total of 41 young people ultimately expressed an interest and were assessed as suitable to come to Ireland under the programme. No child who expressed an interest in coming to Ireland was refused admission. They have all arrived in Ireland and have been provided with the appropriate supports. Three of these minors were reunited with family already here in Ireland and the remaining children were placed in the care of Tusla. All of the young people who arrived in Ireland under the programme have been given Programme Refugee status by my Department.
Consequently, the Calais Special Project has now been completed by Tusla and there will be no further placements in Ireland of young people from the now dismantled Calais camp.
