Dutton aims for zero children in detention

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton says there are 11 children in detention that arrived in boats but he is aiming for zero.

Peter Dutton is hoping there will be no children in detention by next year's federal election. (AAP)

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton is hoping there will be no children in detention by next year's federal election.

He said there are 11 children in detention at the moment that arrived in asylum-seeker boats.

"I'm determined to get that number to as close to zero as I possible can," he told Sky News on Sunday.