Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and her officials to the committee. This is a really ambitious project that should be commended. It will, I hope, enhance the lives of young LGBT people.

Homelessness figures have reached 10,000 people. Youth homelessness is an issue with which this committee will deal in the coming weeks. An LGBT shelter has been launched in London and we know that LGBT homelessness is a big issue across the Minister's birthplace, the United States.

We do not have as much data on youth homelessness in Ireland and whether it is a problem. In the USA, studies indicate that about 40% of all young people accessing homeless services are LGBT. A recent study in the UK found that one quarter of young homeless people are LGBT. We need to realise if it is a problem here. It is touched on in some of the strategy's objectives, such as with homeless services having a safe and inclusive environment. Can the committee do anything in its work on youth homelessness which would support these actions?