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Asylum Seekers

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 October 2020

Thursday, 1 October 2020

Questions (256)

Carol Nolan

Question:

256. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the number of minors who have sought asylum after they arrived unannounced at ports or airports from 2011 to date; the ages of the applicants; the outcomes of such applications for asylum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28072/20]

View answer

Written answers

TUSLA, the Child and Family Agency has statutory responsibility for the care of any unaccompanied minors in the State. If an unaccompanied minor indicates that they wish to apply for international protection, they are referred to TUSLA, either by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) at the airport/port of entry, or by staff at the International Protection Office (IPO) of my Department.

TUSLA will then conduct a Best Interest of the Child assessment. Only after that assessment has been completed and it is decided that it is in the best interest of the child, will they bring the unaccompanied minor to the IPO to make an application on their behalf. Specific arrangements will be made by the IPO in conjunction with TUSLA for the processing of the application. TUSLA will support the minor throughout the process, including attending at their interview.

All applications for international protection made on behalf of unaccompanied minors are prioritised by the IPO for processing, and the IPO has specially trained caseworkers to process these applications.

The table below sets out the number of applications for asylum (2011 – 2016 inclusive) and for international protection (2017 – end August 2020) made by TUSLA - Child and Family Agency on behalf of unaccompanied minors.

Year

Age Group 0 -13

Age Group 14 - 17

Total

2011

2

24

26

2012

1

22

23

2013

2

18

20

2014

2

28

30

2015

1

32

33

2016

0

34

34

2017

3

28

31

2018

17

17

2019

2

47

49

2020 to end August

 0

18

18

Total

13

268

281

The figures above may be subject to data cleansing.

Final decisions in respect of unaccompanied minors for a protection status for the years 2011 - 2020 (end August) are set out in the table below.

Year

No. of Decisions *

2011

10

2012

11

2013

27

2014

20

2015

24

2016

36

2017

16

2018

18

2019

50

2020

21

Total

233

* These figures relate to the year in which the decision was made and not to the year in which the application was made.

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