Unaccompanied Minors (UAM)

Under Section 8 of the Refugee Act 1996, when an unaccompanied minor (person under 18 years of age) arrives in the State, the Health Service Executive (HSE) must be informed and the minor may be placed in its care.

A HSE representative will decide whether or not (and when) an asylum application should be made on behalf of the UAM. A HSE representative and a legal representative will attend at UAM interviews. 

The following features are specific to the examination of asylum applications made by unaccompanied minors (UAMs):

• All UAMs are interviewed by specially-trained ORAC caseworkers.
• UAM applications are given priority.
• There is greater emphasis on certain objective factors such as country of origin information and the possibility of child trafficking or exploitation.

Stateless Persons

Asylum applications are accepted from persons where the Minister is satisfied that they are stateless.  

Programme Refugees

Ireland participates in the UNHCR-led Resettlement Programme. Refugees under this scheme must be in need of resettlement but are not required to undergo the full refugee determination process.  The Resettlement Programme is administered by the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Click here to return to main Asylum Policy web page.