500% increase in migrant children arriving alone in Ireland

Ireland has experienced a 500% increase in the number of children arriving alone to claim asylum.

Tusla figures reveal that in the last 15 months, 607 unaccompanied boys and girls were referred to the child agency’s Separated Children Seeking International Protection (SCSIP) service.

Of those, 243 minors arrived in the first three months of 2024 – more than half of the combined total for 2023. 

The staggering statistics were revealed by Lost in Europe, a cross-border journalism project which investigates missing child migrants. Noteworthy is the project’s Irish publication partner.

Written by Patricia Devlin.