I thank the Deputy for his question on this pressing matter.
I am extremely concerned with the plight of the refugees in Moria, Lesbos, following the fires there, especially young people who are without parents or family in the camp.
Under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) Ireland has committed to accepting 50 people in family groups from the camp at Moria on Lesbos. Officials from my Department have been in contact with EU counterparts to confirm this pledge and to begin the process of resettling refugees to Ireland.
Families arriving in Ireland will be firstly accommodated in Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres, prior to resettlement in counties around the country, with access to all of the services provided to refugees arriving under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme. Such services include those available to Irish citizens.
Ireland has also committed to taking 36 unaccompanied minors from Greece, under the European Union Relief Projects (EURP). Unaccompanied minors arriving in Ireland will be transferred to the care of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.
In June this year the first 8 unaccompanied minors arrived, delayed by the additional challenges presented for travel by the Covid 19 pandemic. I can report that the 8 teenage boys who arrived in June are settling in well and becoming acclimatised to life in Ireland.
I have moved to accelerate the arrival of the remaining children and have secured an additional sum in Budget 2021 to support this. I hope to be in a position to announce further information very soon. At present we await details of the family groups and unaccompanied minors and clarification regarding logistics for the interview missions required to transfer refugee families to Ireland.
The state’s capacity to bring unaccompanied children to Ireland is determined by the available care placements, and the commitments the state has made to unaccompanied children who are already here.
Due to the level of need among refugees since the destruction of the Moria camp, I am seeking to expand Ireland’s capacity to care for unaccompanied children. My Department and Tusla officials are examining the immediate requirements to fulfil Ireland’s existing commitments, including expansion of care placements and working with Department of Justice officials to identify unaccompanied children who wish to come to Ireland.
I thank the Deputy for his interest and I hope I can rely on his support in my efforts to receive more unaccompanied young people from Greece under the IRPP programme.
