Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 March 2012
50 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has met with the Department of Health and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to discuss the strategy for dealing with youth homelessness. [13092/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatutory responsibility for a youth homelessness strategy rests with my colleague the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, while the Health Service Executive (HSE) leads on its implementation. In May 2011 and again in December 2011 my Department was represented at meetings arranged by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs with a range of interested bodies and service providers at which the current Youth Homeless Strategy was discussed. The various service providers present updated the Department of Children and Youth Affairs regarding the services under their remit in order to inform that Department in terms of their approach to updating or reviewing the Youth Homeless Strategy.
My Department understands that the Department of Children and Youth Affairs has now engaged the Centre for Effective Services to undertake a high level review of the Youth Homelessness Strategy as a basis for the development of a framework to address youth homelessness over the next 5 years. My Department will continue to engage as required in respect of any assistance we can offer the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in the development of that framework.
