Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2021
279. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he will publish the youth homelessness strategy as part of the new Housing for All plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47488/21]
View answerSupporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority. Housing for All details how the Government is approaching this challenge, and includes a commitment to develop a Youth Homelessness Strategy within Quarter 1 of 2022. Preparing this strategy will involve co-operation and co-ordination between myself and my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Key operational elements in the provision of supports to young people experiencing homelessness, or at risk of homelessness, fall within the responsibility of a range of agencies and stakeholder bodies.
Upon my appointment as Minister, I established a High Level Homelessness Taskforce, to provide a forum for engagement with key organisations working to address homelessness. The Taskforce is also inputting on the implementation of the commitments on homelessness in the Programme for Government. The membership of the Taskforce consists of the Dublin Region Homeless Executive, Crosscare, Depaul, Focus Ireland, the Peter McVerry Trust, Dublin Simon Community, Threshold and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
At its recent meetings I have discussed the preparation of the Youth Homelessness Strategy and sought the views of members of the Taskforce. I expect that work on the Strategy will continue through 2021 and into 2022, with broader stakeholder engagement.
