Afghan children at the centre of a hunger strike in St Patrick's Cathedral have been placed in a children's home that was closed down three months ago by the Health Service Executive (HSE) following damning criticism of the centre by social services inspectors.
The Dublin home was closed in March on the recommendation of inspectors from the Irish Social Services Inspectorate (ISSI) which criticised child protection measures and the physical conditions of the centre.
The report found that the child protection system was "seriously flawed" and that the manager and staff had a "wholly inadequate understanding of, and response to, the risks to the young people's safety". It also found that the premises were "in a very poor state of repair", with toilets out of use and holes in doors and wall.
Nine Afghan children involved in the St Patrick's Cathedral protest were made wards of court last May on the application of the HSE and were subsequently placed in the children's home.
Following an inquiry from The Irish Times, the HSE declined to comment on the placement of the children, citing legal restrictions. It is understood that the inspectorate has requested a report on the matter from the HSE.
However, HSE sources say the recommendations of social services inspectors have been acted upon by the executive, with new staff in place and a new manger in place. Other sources in contact with the children report that they are satisfied with conditions at the unit.
It is unclear how many children are being cared for at the unit at present. Two of the minors reached 18 years of age last June, while three more will reach 18 in August.
Plans are at an advanced stage, meanwhile, to put new standards in place for unaccompanied minors seeking asylum. Government officials have agreed to extend residential care standards that apply for children in the care of the State to unaccompanied minors. The different treatment of both groups has been a source of controversy for some time.
There has also been concern over the risk such children face from financial or sexual exploitation. While the standards will apply to children seeking asylum aged 16 or under, unaccompanied minors aged 17 to 18 will be subject to the same standards, subject to guidance notes being drafted by the ISSI.
