Submission: National Strategy for Migrant Integration
EPIC make this submission on behalf of the children and young people from ethnic minority backgrounds and unaccompanied minors in care and aftercare with whom we work. Our submission focuses on inclusive and culturally sensitive care, improving accommodation and aftercare service for unaccompanied minors who are ageing out of the care of Tusla while awaiting a decision on their international protection application, and ensuring the active participation of this cohort in decision-making processes related to their care.
Over the past five years, data from our National Advocacy Service indicates that of the 1,864 children and young people who sought assistance and identified their ethnicity to EPIC, 374 were from a ‘non-Irish’ ethnic minority background. The countries of birth of these children and young people included Nigeria, Somalia, Romania, Ukraine, Brazil and Afghanistan. Furthermore, the main presenting issues for which they requested advocacy support were in the areas of placements, legal support, accommodation, aftercare planning and financial.
