The provisions of the Child Care Act 1991, to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and attention, apply to those minors entering this State unaccompanied.
I have been informed by the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority that the numbers of unaccompanied minors who were referred to them in 2003 were as follows:
Health Board/Authority
|
Number of Unaccompanied Minors Referred
|
Number of Unaccompanied Minors Reunited with Family Members
|
Eastern Regional Health Authority
|
789 *
|
439
|
Midland Health Board
|
0
|
0
|
Mid-Western Health Board
|
4
|
1
|
North Eastern Health Board
|
0
|
0
|
North Western Health Board
|
2
|
0
|
Southern Health Board
|
33
|
11
|
South Eastern Health Board
|
2
|
0
|
Western Health Board
|
0
|
0
|
Totals
|
830
|
451
|
*Of the 789 unaccompanied minors referred to the Eastern Regional Health Authority, 76 were deemed to be inappropriate referrals e.g. person over 18 years of age.