Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 November 2005
479 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of non-nationals who came here as unaccompanied minors; the number who received education in the educational system here; the number who are now aged out minors; the locations in which they are accommodated; if he proposes to regularise their situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33873/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to the reply I gave to Parliamentary Question No. 61 on Thursday 20 October 2005. A total of 413 unaccompanied minors who have now reached the age of 18 years have been refused refugee status. These persons received notifications under section 3(3)(a) of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, informing them of the decision to refuse them refugee status and setting out the options available to them; that is, to voluntarily repatriate, to consent to deportation or to make representations to me setting out the reasons they should not be deported.
Of the 413 cases, 211 have been decided to date, resulting in 108 deportation orders, 72 grants of conditional leave to remain under the Irish born child scheme, 2005, eight grants of temporary leave to remain on other grounds, seven voluntary returns, three grants of residency under family reunification, four grants of residency under marriage to an Irish national, six grants of residency under EU treaty rights, two subsequently became EU nationals on 1 May 2004 and one is deceased. The remaining 202 cases have yet to be considered by me. The number of unaccompanied non-national minors in the education system in the State is not known to my Department. The Deputy should contact my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, who may be able to help further.
