Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister. I recognise the importance the Government attaches to child care. In this regard, it has established a Department of Children and Youth Affairs. That a Minister responsible for children sits at the Cabinet table makes a very important statement. Given the Minister's background and interest in this area, I am sure she will make considered and informed decisions when implementing changes recommended in the report and other changes she indicated in her speech. I have no doubt about her intent with regard to making these very welcome changes.

There have been many harsh reports on child care and the neglect of vulnerable children. Such children may have slipped through the net and may not have received the support they should have received in family circumstances. These children depend on the State and may not have received the protections they rightly deserve.

The report contains many recommendations. Other speakers said that if we could implement them all, we would be going a long way towards protecting children and young people. I want to focus on some of these recommendations, especially youth homelessness, which subject forms a major part of Mr. Shannon's report. Senator Hayden stated research has shown that in many cases we can identify the children and young people who will become homeless. Poverty is probably a factor, as are contact with alcohol and drug abuse. It is probable that children whose families have a background of homelessness will become homeless themselves.

The report states it is possible to identify children who may be at risk of becoming homeless. There is much information in this regard available from education, youth justice, health and social services. If there were greater co-ordination among those providing youth homelessness services, we would go a long way towards preventing certain individuals from becoming homeless. Thus the limited resources could be directed at those who do become homeless.

The recommendation on homelessness makes a lot of sense. Those of us who know of children who have become homeless will be quite alarmed by the lack of co-ordination and integration among the various agencies and services. The proposal in this regard is very obvious and simple. The Minister, in her speech, referred to words and phrases such as "co-ordination", "integration", and "harmonised policy". These concepts are very welcome.

There is a need to strengthen the framework associated with tackling youth homelessness. The Child Care Act 1991 places a legislative duty on the HSE to provide care for children at risk of homelessness. Up-to-date information on youth homelessness is very important. This is related to the co-ordination of the information available.

I welcome the fact that the HSE will still be responsible for, as it were, holding the hands of and supporting vulnerable youths after the age of 18. As other Members stated, individuals who have at some stage been homeless are vulnerable and are unable to support themselves when they reach 18. It always makes sense to intervene at an early stage to prevent further homelessness. As Senator Aideen Hayden pointed out, statistics show that 18 year olds who were once homeless will be at further risk of homelessness if they are not supported in early adulthood.

The Minister stated she is working with the Minister for Justice and Equality on bringing forward legislation on human trafficking. This is very welcome and I look forward to it.

Members referred to the referendum on children. I am sure the Minister will respond on this in her summary.