Roger T. Garland
Question:99 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Health whether the health boards, and in particular the Eastern Health Board, are taking responsibility for homeless children aged 16 to 18 years.
Written Answers. - Care of Homeless Children.
The present statutory responsibilities of health boards relate to children below the age of 16 years, except where children in their care attain that age in which case the boards are empowered to continue to assist them. On 31 December 1989 there were 349 children over 16 years of age in the case of health boards.
Under the Child Care Act, 1991 the boards' responsibilities will extend to children up to the age of 18 years and they will have a specific duty in relation to the provision of accommodation for homeless children. In anticipation of the implementation of the new provisions, the health boards, including the Eastern Health Board, are increasingly providing services for homeless teenagers in the 16 to 18 years age group.