Vol. 468 No. 4
214 Ms. O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health if he will review the procedures for accessing emergency care for homeless adolescents and children in view of the fact that the current system of access only through police stations after hours is problematical for some adolescents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15812/96]
The primary objective of the out of hours emergency social work service is to respond to the needs of young people in crisis. While it is recognised that some adolescents may, for whatever reason, be wary of contact with the Garda, the security of health board staff and the young people in question must also be taken into account in the organisation of the service. As staff may be meeting with unknown individuals, these meetings must take place in a secure and safe environment. Such a setting may also be of support and help to children in crisis.
The provision of a comprehensive out of hours social work service to children has been identified as one of the major service targets within the child care and family support services. In this regard, funding was made available to a number of health boards, in the 1996 child care action plan, to provide an out of hours service or expand existing services. I intend to keep this aspect of services to children and adolescents under continuous review.
