More than 1,500 child protection or welfare concerns involving young asylum seekers have been reported to social workers over the last five years.

The figures relate to those in direct provision accommodation - and are between three and four times the rate for young people living in the general community.

According to The Irish Times, the issues being investigated by child protection staff include inappropriate sexualised behaviour among children, the inability of parents to cope, a lack of supervision and mental health problems.

More than 4,000 asylum seekers, including around 1,600 children, live in various accommodation centres across the country.
The majority of those living in this accommodation do so for an average of three years and seven months. There are hundreds, however, who have been in this accommodation for seven or more years. The conditions have been called ‘State-sanctioned poverty’ by human rights groups.

The Irish Times report quotes Dr. Geoffrey Shannon, the Government’s Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, saying the system could be generating problems that will only become apparent in the future.

“When we look back in 10 years’ time, we may well ask ourselves how we allowed the direct provision system to exist,” he said.

“The debate sparked by the Tuam mother-and-baby home should prompt us to reflect on the manner in which all children are treated in Ireland, not merely citizen children.”

There is significant concern over the shared use of accommodation for children and adults, with authorities aware of numerous cases of inappropriate sexual contact between adults and young people. A 14 year old girl became pregnant by a male resident.