I propose to take Questions Nos. 487 and 488 together.
Children who are homeless are entitled to have the same level of safeguarding as any other child. Child protection concerns will be dealt with by Tusla with the same degree of diligence, care and promptness for any child in need, regardless of whether they or their family are experiencing homelessness.
Any decision to take a child into care will be based on the child’s need for protection from harm and will take place in accordance with the thresholds set out in the Child Care Act 1991 (as amended). I would like to emphasise, as would Tusla, that homelessness is not a determining factor for children coming into care.
The decision to place a child in a foster care placement with a private fostering agency, as opposed to a foster care placement provided directly by Tusla, is not determined by their housing situation prior to entering care but rather by the imperative to place the child in a foster care placement which best meets his or her needs.
Tusla have informed me that they have not undertaken comparative analysis of the numbers of children being taken into care in circumstances where their families are or are not experiencing homelessness. Tusla information systems collate data under the categories of harm set out in Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children; that is, neglect, physical abuse, and so on. Tusla does not collect data on the housing situation of children prior to entry into care.
This Government recognises that homelessness is an extremely distressing situation for any family, and living in emergency accommodation is not conducive to normal family life. While ultimate responsibility for managing homelessness rests with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, my Department and Tusla are working to provide supports for families in emergency accommodation in order to mitigate the challenges faced by parents and children in this situation.
