Study finds gaps in services for unaccompanied migrant children

LACK of suitable accommodation, insufficient social work support and lack of clear immigration status are the main issues surrounding the care of unaccompanied migrant children in this country, a new study has found.

A comprehensive report published this week by the ERSI states there is “considerable lack of clarity on provisions for unaccompanied minors in Ireland”, and outlines gaps in the services – as well as instances of best practice.

Another major issue why migrant children often fall through the cracks, the report claims, is the lack of information sharing between organisations.

“There is no national register of unaccompanied minors and this compromises gardaí or HSE ability to trace a minor who goes missing in one part of the country, and who may reappear in the services of another social work team, or indeed in another country,” it states.

The absence of a body or individual who assumes ultimate responsibility, has the effect that “no individual actor, body or agency is ultimately held accountable for the type and quality of reception and care of unaccompanied minors”, it says.

What is also of concern, it notes, is the fact that existing hostels for unaccompanied minors do not have trained childcare workers on site and are run instead by managers and security personnel.

“This situation increases the vulnerability of the group and may contribute to minors going missing from care. It also represents a lack of equity with the level of service provided to Irish children in care.”

In effect, therefore, the accommodation of unaccompanied minors may fall below the standard required for Irish children in care, it concludes.

Completed by the Irish branch of the European Migration Network, the study reveals how an ad hoc approach to dealing with migrant children has developed across the country.

“Outside of the greater Dublin area, services for such minors are at varying levels of development and influenced by the number of unaccompanied minors presenting, the work load of the team and the available resources,” it states.

“Local teams may also choose how to apply the Child Care Act, 1991 to unaccompanied minors based on advice received from their relevant administrative areas.”

For example, within the Dublin Social Work Team for Separated Children, unaccompanied minors are treated as being “in voluntary care” while in Cork they are processed as “out of home minors”. Such distinctions have significant implications for the type of care and aftercare which these unaccompanied minors receive, the study says.