Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the delegations for their presentations and commend them on the work they do. I also commend the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, on her positive work in this instance.

Reference was made in the Barnardos presentation to the people who are hard to reach. How do the agencies interact with such people? On the Focus Ireland presentation, what hits home is the point with regard to young people coming to the agency shortly before reaching their 18th birthday wanting to know where they will live when they leave the system. We should be ashamed of ourselves that 18 year olds are ready to leave the system and have no homes to go to.

I am glad Deputy Conway's interaction with local authorities has been positive. My experience has been the opposite. I know of people who have gone through the care system, some of whom had been living on the streets, who found it extremely difficult to get on any housing list because they needed ties to a community, which they did not have. In one case, the person had lived for four years in a community but that was not good enough. While I have tabled a number of parliamentary questions on the issue the response has always been that this is a matter for each local authority. I would like to see this change to the effect that each local authority address particular issues, in particular, people who have come through care homes, those released from prison and so on. The thinking appears to be that these people may be problematic or suffer from mental health issues and as such local authorities do not want them in their areas. I am being brutally honest. That has been my experience. I feel so sorry for those people who cannot get the help they require.

I am visited at my clinics by older people with mental health issues, as, I am sure, are other representatives. While I agree with the eligibility criteria set out, there are people in their 30s who need help and assistance. I accept that this matter may be outside of the remit of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. However, these people still need help, often owing to their experiences as children when in care or foster homes. It is hard to set particular criteria in this area because people have differing needs.

It was stated that there are 44 aftercare staff. Who will carry out the assessments in respect of the 16 to 18 year olds? Will this be the responsibility of the aftercare service staff or social workers? I hope it will not be the aftercare staff because they already have too much to cope with. I have come across cases which social workers have tried to close because they were too busy, even though the parents involved did not agree. I have brought this matter to the attention of the Minister. I would welcome a response to the questions I have raised.