To ask the Minister of Health what provision is being made and advice is being given on accommodating unaccompanied child refugees with foster parents between now and May 2021.

It is assumed that this is a reference to the ‘National Transfer Scheme’ launched by the British Home Office in July 2016 to secure a more even distribution of caring responsibilities for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children and unaccompanied refugee children who are looked after children across local authorities.

My Department will continue to work closely with the Executive Office and British Home Office to consider the implications of extending the Scheme to the north of Ireland. This will include consideration of the type and nature of support and advice which would need to be given to Health and Social Care Trusts, which would become responsible for their care, other providers of services to looked after children, and our universal services, including schools. Any decision to accept unaccompanied refugee children will depend on the capacity within our children’s social care system to effectively meet their individual needs. As with all looked after children, unaccompanied refugee children would be placed in the care placement that is most appropriate for their assessed needs to achieve the best outcomes for them.