Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 July 2021
276. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if funding restraints are affecting the availability of placements for young person's moving within the children’s residential network; if funding issues are affecting the availability of placements for young persons who are aging out of care or in aftercare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38834/21]
View answerFunding restraint is not the issue with placing or moving children within the children's residential network. In some instances, the challenge is the availability of suitable placements to meet the specific complex needs of a small number of young people.
Over the past number of years there is an increasing number of eligible young people who are in receipt of Aftercare support and who require appropriate placement or accommodation. Additional funding was allocated in 2021 to bring the funding in line with 2020 demand, and while demand is still increasing the cost is met within the overall Tusla budget. Numbers and costs are monitored closely and reported nationally for monitoring and reporting.
