Chris Flood
Ceist:38 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for Health the progress, if any, made in each health board area on the provision of facilities to meet the needs of homeless children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16787/96]
Written Answers. - Homeless Children.
Chris Flood
Ceist:50 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for Health whether an out-of-hours contract service is currently in place in each health board area to meet the needs of homeless children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16788/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 50 together.
Section 5 of the Child Care Act, 1991, requires health boards to take such steps as are reasonable to provide accommodation for homeless children up to 18 years of age. In preparation for the commencement of section 5, special funding was made available in 1991 and 1992 for the development of new services and facilities for homeless children. Since 1993 the Government has approved the development and expansion of child care and family support services, including the further expansion of services and facilities for the young homeless, at a cost of £35 million on an annualised basis.
It is recognised across the health boards that an integrated range of measures is necessary in order to deal with the problem of youth homelessness. A number of solutions are required. These include early childhood intervention to prevent children at risk from becoming homeless, greater provision of services for families and young people in the community, the provision of suitable and varied accommodation and back up services for young homeless people and accommodation and support services for children leaving care.
The extent and nature of the problem of homeless children varies between health boards and between community care areas. Health boards are at present undertaking a series of initiatives to address the problem locally and the responses are drawn up with due regard to the particular nature of the problem in these areas. These services include the provision of emergency short-term places, emergency carer's projects, day projects for children who would otherwise be roaming the streets, supported lodgings, supervised accommodation and social work services.
Each board has in place arrangements to facilitate access to its services by out of home children in emergency situations.