Bernard Allen
Question:141 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children his most up-to-date plans for the implementation of the youth homelessness strategy. [13057/03]
Written Answers. - Youth Homelessness Strategy.
The youth homelessness strategy was published on 31 October 2001. The health boards have lead responsibility for implementation of the strategy and they have prepared detailed action plans in this regard. I have given approval to these plans and they are being phased in over the period 2002-04. I understand that since the publication of the strategy, approximately 96 new staff – including management staff, project workers, social workers, family support workers, after-care workers and public health nurses – have been appointed across the ten health board regions, seven new units have opened nationwide and new and extended services have been developed in approximately 20 locations.
The Deputy will be aware that, under the strategy, implementation is to be monitored by a committee chaired by the National Children's Office. It also comprises representation from the relevant stakeholders as follows: the Department of Health and Children; the Eastern Regional Health Authority and each health board outside the ERHA area; the Department of Education and Science-Education Welfare Board; the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government; the Homeless Agency; and the voluntary sector.
The committee is placing particular emphasis on cross-sectoral issues that require attention. Its work aims to add real value to the implementation process by grouping the strategy actions and rooting their implementation through detailed analysis and meaningful follow-up. The committee has established six sub-groups, which are being co-ordinated by the National Children's Office.
I have been advised that the following three sub-groups have already commenced work: inter-agency co-ordination and linkages – an analysis of the significant current blockages has been carried out, solutions identified and agreed by the plenary committee and the sub-group is following up on the solutions in areas such as training, information systems, inter-agency protocols, internal organisational communications systems and policy proofing: after care, emergency response, assessment and emergency care – the key after-care issues are being identified, a questionnaire is being issued to all after-care workers to enable accurate assessment of progress to date, identification of problems with implementation, dissemination of best practice and planned solutions and the next plenary session will be devoted to discussion of the after-care analysis and actions for follow-up will be agreed; and statistics – it is acknowledged that there are difficulties in accurately measuring the number of homeless young people in Ireland.
With regard to statistics, a project team was set up by the Department of Health and Children together with the health boards approximately two years ago to devise proposals for the establishment of a national standardised integrated child care information system. This will include a national youth homelessness database accessible to both voluntary and statutory service providers. An interim data set is being used in the meantime. In addition, the definition of youth homelessness used in the strategy has been interpreted differently by various health boards. The statistics sub group is currently examining ways of minimising the potential for such inconsistencies, pending the development of a national youth homelessness database. It is working closely with the Department of Health and Children project team and will submit its recommendations to both the project team and the YHS monitoring committee.
I understand that the sub groups were prioritised as they cover the most critical areas of the youth homelessness strategy and that the committee considered that it would not be helpful for all six sub groups to proceed simultaneously. I am informed that work on the remaining sub groups will commence in the latter part of this year. The remaining sub groups are: education and training; support services, community development, co-ordination of family support services – this sub group will link in with the Department of Health and Children's review of family support services which has recently commenced; information and advocacy.