Number of unaccompanied minors arriving at Ireland's border halves in pandemic year 

When an unaccompanied minor arrives in Ireland and indicates that they wish to apply for international protection, they are referred to Tusla, either by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) at the airport or port of entry, or by staff at the International Protection Office (IPO) at the Department of Justice. File photo: Dan Linehan

The number of unaccompanied minors arriving in Ireland more than halved last year.

According to Tusla, the State’s Child and Family Agency, some 75 minors arrived in Ireland unaccompanied by a parent or guardian last year.  This was markedly down on the numbers arriving in 2019 when 181 unaccompanied minors were referred to the agency.