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Homeless Accommodation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 March 2022

Thursday, 24 March 2022

Questions (44)

Joe Flaherty

Question:

44. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on measures undertaken by his Department to tackle child and youth homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15311/22]

View answer

Written answers

The primary responsibility for housing and managing homelessness lies with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the local authorities. This responsibility includes the accommodation needs of young persons leaving all forms of State care.

Policy responsibility for homeless young people, insofar as it extends to my Department, relates to children under 18 and any child welfare and protection concerns that may arise in the context of the Child Care Act 1991. Children under 16 who present as being homeless to emergency services are taken into care by the Child and Family Agency. Children aged 16 and 17 may be taken into care, or provided with accommodation under section 5 of the Child Care Act 1991.

My Department also has responsibility for after care provision, for young people leaving care. Currently, those care-leavers who are at risk of homeless are assisted by the Child and Family Agency, in partnership with other Government Departments or agencies. This includes finding accommodation in supported lodgings, sheltered housing, or facilitating independent living. Since 2017, care-leavers have also been included as a separate category for funding under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS). This scheme provides targeted assistance to the most vulnerable care leavers by enabling Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to acquire residential units to accommodate them.

While the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has ultimate responsibility for managing homelessness, my Department is committed to addressing homelessness as part of a whole-of-Government response including contributing to the development of a Youth Homeless Strategy. My Department is leading and co-ordinating consultations with representatives of young people experiencing homelessness and most at risk of homelessness so that their voices are heard and their needs properly reflected in the action plan developed as part of the strategy.

The findings of the consultation with young people experiencing homelessness will additionally inform the development of the successor framework to Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures which is currently being developed by my Department.

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