Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 January 2014
662. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress that has been made on the implementation of the recommendations in the review of the youth homelessness strategy published last year, including the consultation that has been undertaken regarding the recommendations in the review; and the timeline for the full implementation of agreed recommendations. [4095/14]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, my Department commissioned the Centre for Effective Services (CES) to undertake a review of the implementation of the Youth Homelessness Strategy published by the Department of Health and Children in 2001.
The purpose of the review was to establish the extent to which the strategy has been successful, to identify challenges to its implementation and to make recommendations for future action. CES consulted with the relevant service providers, NGOs and young people as part of this process. The report, Every Child a Home: A Review of the Implementation of the Youth Homelessness Strategy, was published in July 2013.
The review found that there had been significant improvements in the service response to children presenting as homeless in the last ten years and that the range and standard of services has improved over the past decade and this appears to have contributed to a decrease in the number of children and young people accessing services through the homeless sector.
Young people aged between 15 and 17 who come to the attention of emergency and youth homeless services as being vulnerable and at risk are typically more challenging to care for as they may be out of school, have experienced neglect and serious family discord, problematic drug use, have mental health or learning difficulties, move amongst peers and they may be less inclined to engage with social work services. Services need to provide early and flexible options to engage with these young people and to support them beyond their 18th birthday.
My Department has engaged with the Departments of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Education and Skills, Social Protection and Health as well as the (then) HSE Children and Family Services and National Educational Welfare Board seeking their views on how the recommendations of “Every Child a Home” relevant to each sector are being or might be brought forward. My Department will establish a committee of statutory stakeholders to consider the best way to progress priority recommendations and it is intended to convene the first meeting shortly.
