Ireland: Nearly 300 Asylum Seekers Claiming Childhood Found Adult

An Oireachtas committee was informed that nearly 300 asylum seekers in Ireland who claimed to be children over the past four years were subsequently found to be adults, raising concerns about age assessment delays and child safety.

7 May, 05:00 — 7 May, 10:03

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Why this matters

The accurate age assessment of asylum seekers is crucial for safeguarding vulnerable children and ensuring appropriate care and legal processes. Delays and misidentification can lead to adults being placed in child facilities, posing safety risks, or children being denied necessary protections.

Key entitiesTusla Hiqa PAC

The Story

What 3 sources agree on, dispute, and miss

What sources agree on

Nearly 300 asylum seekers who claimed to be children were found to be adults by Tusla
There were significant delays in conducting age assessments

Key claims2 agreed · 2 unverified

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Almost 300 child asylum seekers were found to be adults by Tusla.

agreed·irish-independentirish-times

✓

There were 'significant delays' to eligibility assessments last year.

agreed·irish-independentirish-times

Hiqa, PAC, and legal professionals have voiced concerns about the safety of child asylum seekers in Tusla’s care.

unverified·irish-times

Tusla is caught in a complex issue without clear legislative guidance.

unverified·irish-times

Coverage gaps

Concerns raised by Hiqa, PAC, and legal professionals regarding the safety of child asylum seekers in Tusla's care, and Tusla's lack of clear legislative guidance on this issue.

Reportedirish-times

Missingirish-independent