Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 December 2018
31. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to a report by the European Migration Network and published by the ESRI, regarding unaccompanied minors; the measures she has taken to assist unaccompanied minors that come here following the publication of the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52432/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for his question, which relates to a report published on Tuesday, December 4th, on the important subject of separated children seeking asylum. I would like to take this opportunity to note that children who arrive with their family and seek asylum remain in the care and custody of their parents.
It is also worth noting that a minority of the referrals made to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, in respect of separated children seeking asylum are either found to be young people over the age of 18, or they are reunited with their parent/guardian who is already in the country. Where a young person is under 18 years of age, they taken into the care of Tusla.
The Tusla Separated Children Seeking Asylum Team have developed an effective model of working with these children to identify the supports they need. I am satisfied that the care provided to separated children seeking asylum is of a high standard. The report notes that the standard of treatment separated children receive in Ireland compares very favourably to the services provided in many European jurisdictions.
All separated children seeking asylum see a social worker on the day of referral, and are placed in the care of Tusla. The children, mainly in the age group 15-17 years are placed initially in a specialist residential unit where they receive supports and undergo a needs assessment which includes an assessment of medical and educational needs. They may move to a foster care placement, supported lodgings, or remain in residential care, depending on their needs.
All separated children have an allocated social worker from the specialist team and have written care plan, which looks at all aspects of a child's health and development. This includes the provision of language, educational, medical and psychological supports, and a clinical assessment and decision on the most appropriate time to support the child in making an to application for asylum.
