Traffickers arrange the illegal arrival of one child in ten
The health board responsible for the care of unaccompanied minors, responding to a report critical of services for the vulnerable youngsters, said major improvements have been made in recent months, including the hostels for young mothers.
Dr Pauline Conroy’s report, ‘Trafficking in Unaccompanied Minors in Ireland’, said youngsters were being kept in hostels with adults, including the homeless.
In a criticism aimed more at the Government, Dr Conroy said the lack of support services and social workers charged with caring for the hundreds of youngsters who arrive alone in Ireland meant they have to be cared for by the East Coast Area Health Board.
The board yesterday welcomed the International Organisation for Migration commissioned report. But a spokesperson said the report’s findings reflected the state of services for unaccompanied minors in 2003. There have been many recent improvements, the board argue.
The board conceded that the report highlights the need for the development of more support services and supervision for unaccompanied minors living in hostels.
But it contended that changes have taken place. These include the provision of two hostels for teenage mothers and their babies, and the provision of a separate hostel for teenage girls. Separate full-board provision is also being made for 12-to-16 year olds. Adult residents are now excluded from hostels, and the number of young people in each hostel has been reduced.
There has also been an increase in staffing levels and training, and full board accommodation is now provided for all new clients.
A social worker has been assigned specifically to recruit foster carers for these children.
“There has also been an audit of the overall accommodation needs of this client group and there are on-going discussions taking place with the Departments of Health and Children, and Justice, Equality and Law Reform in relation to resources to implement further improvements,” said a spokesperson.
“The Board is committed to developing improved quality of care and accommodation which is an essential part of responding to caring for all unaccompanied minors including those children who have been identified as trafficking victims.”
Dr Conroy called for accurate figures for the number of trafficked children. It is estimated illegal traffickers have organised the journeys of up to 10% of all unaccompanied minors who arrive in Ireland.
Some are re-united with their families, others are brought here for sexual or other exploitation. Many more have absolutely no idea why they ended up in Ireland.
