Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Dec 1995

Vol. 459 No. 3

Written Answers. - Youth Homelessness.

Liam Fitzgerald

Ceist:

56 Mr. L. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the extent of youth homelessness as revealed recently by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18083/95]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan

, Limerick East): I have seen the reference in the annual report of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to the problem of youth homelessness. I am pleased to note that the society has welcomed the commencement of the Child Care Act which is an important element in our overall response to the problem.

As the House is aware, I recently made an order bringing 44 sections of the Act into operation with effect from 31 October 1995. Some 61 of the 79 sections are now in force and I intend to bring the remaining 18 sections into operation before the end of 1996. The sections now in force include key provisions dealing with the protection of children in emergencies, care proceedings and the powers and duties of health boards in relation to children in their care. These greatly strengthen the powers of the courts, the health boards and the gardaí to intervene to protect children from abuse and neglect.

In relation to homeless children, section 5 of the Act requires health boards to take such steps as are reasonable to make available suitable accommodation for homeless children up to 18 years. Health boards are developing a range of options to enable them to discharge their responsibilities under this section. These include: emergency hostels and other forms of residential accommodation; day care programmes for adolescents who are currently homeless or at risk of being homeless; out of hours social work services targeted at homeless children; special foster care services for out of home adolescents.

However, I acknowledge that there is still room for improvement and, with the support of the Minister for Health, I will be seeking additional resources for the child care services in the Estimates for 1996.