Health authorities are introducing changes to the way unaccompanied migrant children are cared for following concern at the disappearance of more than 250 children in the past four years.
The Health Service Executive (East Coast Area) has stopped placing young people in adult hostels and has developed a new facility for 12- to 16-year-olds.
It has also submitted a proposal to the Department of Health to develop services for all unaccompanied minors within national standards for residential services for Irish children in care.
Sixty eight unaccompanied minors disappeared from care last year, while at least 12 disappeared in the first four months of 2005. There are about 210 migrant children in care. Around 20 per cent of these are under the age of 16 years of age.
The disappearance of children has prompted concern over the welfare of unaccompanied minors and whether they are receiving sufficient supervision and care.
Research conducted by Dr Pauline Conroy for the International Organisation of Migrants found that around 10 per cent of unaccompanied minors coming into Ireland were the subject of criminal investigation in relation to criminal trafficking or smuggling by adults.
Most children who arrive as asylum seekers or unaccompanied minors stay in hostels which are outside the remit of the Social Services Inspectorate and which do not have to comply with national childcare standards.
The Irish Refugee Council has expressed concern at the "loose" arrangements in place for migrant children compared to Irish children in care.
Héilean Rosenstock-Armie, the council's separated children's officer, said that while many social workers were doing positive work under difficult conditions, campaigners had concerns over child protection.
"There is very little supervision of these children. A social worker, for example, finishes work at 5pm, so there's very often no one to advocate for them, or monitor them," she said.
"For Irish children the ratio of social workers to children can be one to one. Yet it can be a ratio of one to 30 for separated children."
The council has called for project workers to be allocated to children or hostels who could be available on a 24-hour basis.
It has also raised concerns over the lack of child protection measures for children who are reunited with their families.
While social services check on children in care who are reunited with their families, there is no such monitoring for families in the asylum system.
The council fears that the lack of child protection arrangements means there is a "tragedy waiting to happen", such as abuse cases which have come to light in Britain.
Other measures the HSE is examining include the recruitment and support of foster families to cater specifically for separated children seeking asylum.
Once-off funding has also been provided to deliver a support programme provided by Barnardos focused on normalising care for the young people, supporting their educational participation and providing a range of activities for them.
