Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2021
155. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of commitments to transfer unaccompanied minors to Ireland as refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48710/21]
View answerIn 2018 Ireland committed to receiving 36 separated children seeking international protection (unaccompanied minors) from Greece under the European Union Relief Projects. Of that 36 I can confirm that there are now 34 separated children in Ireland from Greece with the further remaining two due to arrive in the coming weeks. Their arrival had been delayed by the additional challenges presented for travel by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, an additional €5m was provided to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to provide dedicated services to expedite the intake of the separated children in Greece to whom we had a commitment. Tusla has developed a suite of care options to include expansion of residential care placements, development of specialist foster care placements and provision of additional aftercare supports for those children seeking international protection in Ireland.
