I am pleased to report that 53 persons were interviewed last month by my officials in the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) from the Moria Camp in Lesbos in Greece and security approved in early July for resettlement in Ireland. Flights and isolation accommodation on arrival are currently being organised.
In Budget 2021, I secured an additional €5m to support TUSLA in providing dedicated services to accelerate the intake of the remaining unaccompanied refugee children in Greece to whom my government have committed to take 36 unaccompanied minors. Eight children already arrived in Summer 2020. TUSLA have developed a range of accommodation options to receive and provide specialist care for the children. Changes at European Union level in the procedures for managing the relocation of unaccompanied minors led to a pause in the transfer of all children.
These changes have now been successfully implemented at EU level and Ireland has received a list of unaccompanied minors who have been accepted, following appropriate security checking and preparation. TUSLA are ready to receive these children as soon as they can travel safely. TUSLA and my Department are working with the Greek authorities and the HSE to progress the safest travel and relocation options as soon as possible, within the scope of current travel and quarantine restrictions. The plan is that the remaining 28 children will arrive in 4 different groups between the end of this month and mid-September.
