Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 May 2023
546. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice if the State knows the whereabouts of all asylum seekers in Ireland; if so, the number of asylum seekers who are missing; and the number of these who are children. [26289/23]
View answerApplicants for international protection are required to cooperate with the international protection process. This includes ensuring their Temporary Residence Card is in date and their address is up to date with the International Protection Office (IPO). It is the case that some applicants leave the State without notifying the International Protection Office and choose not to continue with their application.
The International Protection Office (IPO) will write to applicants who are not cooperating with the process at their last known address giving them the opportunity to cooperate. This may include applications involving family groups including children. The IPO copies this letter to their legal representative where known. In the event an applicant does not respond, i.e., continues not cooperating with the process, the IPO will proceed to make a recommendation, up to and including a Deportation Order, on their application based on the information available to it.
While the above arrangements may include applications involving family groups including children, arrangements regarding unaccompanied minors seeking international protection are overseen by the Child and Family Agency (Tusla).
