A GLOBAL human rights report has criticised Ireland for housing some young asylum seekers in residential facilities without any inspection system.
The Amnesty International report on the state of the world’s human rights during 2006, released yesterday, states in its Ireland section: “State-run or funded facilities for children in care and unaccompanied asylum-seeker children lacked an inspection system.”
A spokesperson for the Health Service Executive (HSE) admitted that residential facilities for 17 and 18-year-old unaccompanied asylum seekers – who are usually housed in State-funded private hostels – are still not being inspected by the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI).
The situation has been of ongoing concern to human rights groups. Last June, a spokesperson for the Irish Refugee Council commented: “The hostels which accommodate the children do not fall under the Social Services Inspectorate and a grossly minimal level of staffing is a likely contributor to children going missing.”
According to the HSE – which is responsible for children in care – discussions are taking place with the SSI to ensure hostels housing teenage asylum seekers fall under the SSI’s inspection remit.
“Pending these standards being implemented, the HSE carries out regular inspections itself of all residential facilities housing separated children seeking asylum,” the spokes-person said.
He added that asylum-seeking children who are 16 and under are being accommodated in facilities inspected by the SSI, and are therefore subject to the Standards for Children in Residential Care.
“This means that children in this client group are accommodated in facilities which are measured against the standards as set out in the Childcare Act 1991,” he said. “These are the same standards used to inspect facilities which accommodate Irish children.”
There are over 200 lone children seeking asylum currently in the care of the HSE. Approximately 300 have gone missing from care since 2001. So far this year, 10 have gone missing. According to the HSE, most are in the 16-to-17 age-bracket.
“The suspicion is that many of these children who have absconded may have pre-planned this with persons unknown prior to entering the country,” the spokesman said, speculating that their intention is to re-unite with family in Ireland or elsewhere in Europe. All cases are reported to the gardai, he said.
A spokesperson for the Health Service Executive (HSE) admitted that residential facilities for 17 and 18-year-old unaccompanied asylum seekers – who are usually housed in State-funded private hostels – are still not being inspected by the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI).
The situation has been of ongoing concern to human rights groups. Last June, a spokesperson for the Irish Refugee Council commented: “The hostels which accommodate the children do not fall under the Social Services Inspectorate and a grossly minimal level of staffing is a likely contributor to children going missing.”
According to the HSE – which is responsible for children in care – discussions are taking place with the SSI to ensure hostels housing teenage asylum seekers fall under the SSI’s inspection remit.
“Pending these standards being implemented, the HSE carries out regular inspections itself of all residential facilities housing separated children seeking asylum,” the spokes-person said.
He added that asylum-seeking children who are 16 and under are being accommodated in facilities inspected by the SSI, and are therefore subject to the Standards for Children in Residential Care.
“This means that children in this client group are accommodated in facilities which are measured against the standards as set out in the Childcare Act 1991,” he said. “These are the same standards used to inspect facilities which accommodate Irish children.”
There are over 200 lone children seeking asylum currently in the care of the HSE. Approximately 300 have gone missing from care since 2001. So far this year, 10 have gone missing. According to the HSE, most are in the 16-to-17 age-bracket.
“The suspicion is that many of these children who have absconded may have pre-planned this with persons unknown prior to entering the country,” the spokesman said, speculating that their intention is to re-unite with family in Ireland or elsewhere in Europe. All cases are reported to the gardai, he said.
