Whistleblower claims Tusla staff not doing proper checks unaccompanied minors being met by family members

Disclosure said the knowledge of the whistleblower was 'mainly of what happens at Dublin airport'.

A whistleblower has claimed in a protected disclosure to the health watchdog that Tusla staff are not conducting proper checks to ensure unaccompanied minors entering the State are being met by family members.

The whistleblower made the disclosure after “many former border management unit [BMU] officers who worked in Dublin airport” raised issues with how “family reunification assessments” were handled.

The disclosure said the knowledge of the whistleblower was “mainly of what happens at Dublin airport,” adding unaccompanied minors are usually brought into the State by an asylum seeker known as an ‘agent’.

It added: “Sometimes the agent will hand the BMU officer a note stating that the child's mother is already living in Ireland with their phone number on the note. Sometimes, the alleged parents/relatives will be at the airport waiting for the unaccompanied minor to arrive.”

Tusla is then contacted.

The whistleblower said he had been informed by a former BMU officer “that on many occasions” the Tusla social worker tried “to conduct the 'reunification assessment' over the phone.” 

He added: “Officially, a Tusla social worker is meant to carry out an in-person assessment each time an unaccompanied minor arrives at a port of entry before they are allowed to leave with the adult claiming to be their relative.” 

He also claimed there have been “several instances where so-called 're-unifications' have taken place between adults and unaccompanied minors” where there was no proven family connections.

In a response to the whistleblower, also seen by the Irish Examiner, health watchdog Hiqa said: “There is prima facie evidence that tends to show a relevant wrongdoing may have occurred. The information we have received from you is of serious concern and was escalated to the service provider as part of our ongoing regulatory functions.” 

Tusla said it did not comment on the specific details or circumstances of protected disclosures. It said it worked in collaboration with other State agencies to promote the safety and wellbeing of children and young people who arrive unaccompanied in Ireland seeking international protection.