Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 21 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 2

Written Answers. - Asylum Applications.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

58 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if there has been an increase in the number of unaccompanied minors who have entered Ireland to claim asylum; if applicants present themselves at point of entry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5975/02]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The number of applications from unaccompanied minors is set out in the following table:

Year	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002(31 January2002)
Total applications made by unaccompanied minors	2	37	300	603	19

Section 8(5)(a) of the Refugee Act, 1996 as amended, provides, inter alia, that where it appears to an immigration officer that a child under the age of 18 years, who has either arrived at the frontiers of the State or has entered the State, is not in the custody of any person, the officer shall, as soon as practicable, so inform the health board in whose functional area the child is and thereupon the provisions of the Child Care Act, 1991, shall apply in relation to the child.

Where it appears to the health board concerned, on the basis of information available to it, that an application for a declaration as a refugee should be made by or on behalf of a child, the health board shall arrange for the appointment of an officer of the health board or such other person as it may determine to make an application on behalf of the child.

Statistics are not maintained on an ongoing basis of the number of unaccompanied minors referred by immigration officers from ports of entry in this way.

Question No. 59 answered with Question No. 10.

Question No. 60 answered with Question No. 9.