Illegal trafficking highlighted as children referred to health board

AT least six suspected victims of children trafficking were referred to the care of the East Coast Area Health Board last year.

The referrals, from the Garda National Immigration Bureau, were in relation to suspected trafficking of children for exploitation or unknown purposes. Countries of origin of these cases included Nigeria, South Africa and Romania.

A statement from the ECAHB said the issue was highlighted in its annual report as it was “a slight increase on the previous year and the service is acutely aware of the possibility of this occurring from the experiences of other countries.” The board was unable to provide the previous year’s figures. It also emerged in the annual report that asylum-seeking children in the east of the country receive a sub-standard level of care compared with Irish children in care.