Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 January 2024
250. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice how many of the 3,285 persons who arrived to Dublin Airport without a valid identity document in 2023 were under the age of 16; coming from or embarking for a place in the State, Great Britain or Northern Ireland; a citizen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or a person who has established a right in the State pursuant to EU law. [2232/24]
View answerI am informed that the overall figure cited by the Deputy refers only to arrivals of persons over the age of 18 at Dublin Airport and the further information requested is not readily available.
All unaccompanied persons under the age of 18 who arrive at Dublin Airport are managed in the first instance with a focus on child safeguarding; they are not recorded in the overall refusal of leave to land figures or in figures for the undocumented arrivals collated by my Department. I am advised that in 2023, approximately 250 unaccompanied persons under the age of 18 presented to officers of the Border Management Unit at Dublin Airport and were subsequently referred to the Child and Family Agency (TUSLA); a significant number (over 50%) of these were unaccompanied minors fleeing the war in Ukraine.
