Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 May 2017
6. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to set down by county the number of aftercare placements in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017; her plans for aftercare in view of the recent reports of a 78% increase in homelessness in the 18 to 24 year old age group since 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22173/17]
View answer12. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to set down the numbers of children leaving State residential care who have entered homeless services in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017; the steps she is taking to address homelessness for this vulnerable cohort; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22174/17]
View answerI gather the Minister will take the question with another question of mine further down the list.
The Minister responded to a question from Deputy Rabbitte earlier with some statistics. In 2015, there were 720 people between 18 and 22 years of age receiving aftercare services. A total of 78% of these were in the 18 to 20 years age bracket.
The requirement for an aftercare plan to be in place prior to leaving residential care is important. Is the Minister concerned about the deficiencies in this regard? What follow-up is there for people who seem to disengage and slip through the net?
Between 2014 and 2017, the number of homeless people in the 18 to 24 years age group rose from 436 to 783. A total of 549 of these young adults were based in Dublin. Obviously, these are vulnerable children and young people. What additional resources will the Minister put forward?
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 12 together.
Every year, between 450 and 500 young people leave the care of the State. Aftercare is the planning and support put in place to meet the needs of a young person leaving statutory care at 18 years of age to assist that person to make the transition to independent living.
There has been widespread uptake of aftercare services by those leaving care. In 2016, a total of 1,806 persons aged 18 to 22 years were in receipt of aftercare supports from Tusla at the end of the fourth quarter. In 2015, the figure was 1,763, and in 2014, a total of 1,685 young adults, including those aged 23 and over, were in receipt of aftercare supports.
Of the 605 young adults discharged from care on reaching 18 years of age during 2016, 581 or 96% were eligible for aftercare supports. Of these, 521 or 90% availed of the supports. Engagement with Tusla on aftercare is purely voluntary. Tusla has no power to oblige a young person to avail of the support.
Tusla does not operate a policy of discharging young adults into homeless services. Of those in receipt of aftercare supports at the end of 2016, 9% were identified as being in other accommodation, including accommodation such as psychiatric services, disability services, mother and baby centres or even prison. The number of young adults in these services declined significantly in the 2014 to 2015 period, with a small increase in 2016. Tusla is in the process of updating an aftercare national audit. This will provide a more detailed picture of the outcomes for those leaving care in Ireland, including those identified as having complex needs that leave them at a heightened risk of homelessness.
I welcome the information the Minister has given about Tusla carrying out a national audit. Does she believe it is time that aftercare was placed on a firmer basis, perhaps a statutory basis? The Tusla report shows that since 2010 almost 150 vulnerable young adults known to the service have died. It makes for sobering reading to realise the disconnect between the HSE and Tusla and the fate of these individuals. A total of 11% of the 149 were in care and a further 11% under 21 years of age had been in care until 18 years of age or were receiving aftercare services. The statistic is shocking.
Let us consider some of the facilities available. I looked at the case management guidebook relating to youth services aftercare, youth services emergency accommodation and youth services transitional houses. The number of places available in many units is small. Lefroy House, for example, has only seven places. Chéad Chéim, an excellent housing project for 18 to 21 year olds, has only 14 places. Crosscare aftercare service for males between 16 and 21 years of age has only seven places. In particular, the service is vital for young adults with babies and young children who are still in care. Are there any aftercare housing placements for them? Are they deemed to have priority with local authorities?
I will try to offer some answers to many of the key issues Deputy Broughan has identified. The Deputy may be aware that, in addition to the aftercare planning and supports provided by Tusla, under the Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness plan, Tusla commits to ensuring young people leaving State care who are at risk of homelessness are identified and catered for through appropriate housing and other supports. Funding is now in place under the capital assistance scheme to enable approved housing bodies to acquire residential units to accommodate young people exiting State care. This arrangement was recommended to me by Peter McVerry when we were preparing for this plan. Eventually, we got it into the plan and now we are working with the chief executive of the Peter McVerry Trust, Pat Doyle, and others to develop with Tusla principles and criteria relating to funding proposals for that kind of housing. Where accommodation is provided under the capital assistance scheme, Tusla will provide additional independent living supports, in particular for the most vulnerable care leavers, whom Deputy Broughan has referenced, in accordance with the pre-agreed aftercare plan of the individual.
I wish to ask the Minister about a reply she gave me on 2 May to a parliamentary question. I am referring to Question No. 1438 relating to children in foster care. The figures did not seem to add up. A total of 132 children were missing based on how we added up the figures. Will the Minister get her officials to check that?
My final question relates to separated children seeking asylum in State care who have completed the leaving certificate but who are unable to apply for a Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, grant due to not having full legal status. To qualify for a SUSI grant, it is necessary to have legal status and to satisfy the requirements for habitual residency. Surely, as part of an aftercare plan, social workers and the Department of Justice and Equality should prioritise the securing of legal status for these young adults. The figures I have received show that nine young adults turned 18 years of age, sat the leaving certificate and were receiving aftercare support. Surely, this is something that we can address urgently.
I have met some of those young people so of course I appreciate and understand what Deputy Broughan is asking for. My personal commitment is that it is so important to be able to deliver. I appreciate the point. I recognise Deputy Broughan has made his comments on aftercare within the context of that particular cohort of young people. In light of his comments, I will reflect on the matter and engage with other Ministers, including those with responsibility for education and justice and equality. I am keen for that group of young people to be able to avail of educational opportunities in the same way the Deputy or anyone else can.
