Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am conscious of time so I am only going to ask one question and make a few comments. First, I acknowledge the witnesses' presence and thank all of them because they are advocates who have given voices to many voiceless homeless children and families. They should not be disheartened. I have heard all of them speak at different venues in the past few years, and they are constant advocates for homeless people, and children in particular. It makes a difference, as previous speakers said. It is a dripping tap, but people eventually cop on, so I salute the witnesses for their work.

I have been involved in the establishment of the institutional redress scheme and the early stages of lobbying for it, and I can see this issue becoming our next redress scheme. Children are exposed to physical, mental, emotional, and sexual abuse, and they are unsafe. A woman I have been working with for three years, whom we flagged to HIQA, Wicklow County Council, and a number of State agencies, is still in emergency accommodation in a hotel in Bray today. She rings me every day asking how she can meet someone and get assistance. She has major mental health issues, which she acknowledges and recognises. She has sat here in the hall of Leinster House with her daughter, and her daughter has taken her hand and rubbed it and said "Mummy, stop crying. I am here for you." A 14 year old girl has sat in this building crying and saying that she is there to support her mother. When I ring up the particular council, the officials tell me she has a history and is trouble. We all have a history and we all have troubles, and we need support and assistance. One thing that is clear from what the witnesses have told us, which I have always believed, is that we need joined-up thinking. We have HIQA and the Departments of Education and Skills, Children and Youth Affairs, and Health. However, every time I contact one of these Departments, I am told that it does not come under its remit, or that the officials cannot meet this particular person because she will not accept a placefinder or meet him or as she has had problems with housing assistance payment, HAP, and does not want to go into it again. It is all very sad and traumatic for people. There is not a politician or county councillor in this country who has not been touched by personal experience of people who come to their clinics. That is an important thing to say.

It is not surprising that we have a lack of child support case workers, as was the case in the childcare sector in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. We saw the redress scheme and what it dealt with - the trauma, trouble, hurt, pain, suffering, mental anguish, anxiety and torture that children are undergoing. We as a State refer to the Constitution cherishing the children of the nation equally, but it does not. This State does not cherish its children equally, and it is exceptionally disappointing. We all value our homes and they are central to our dignity as people. They are central to our dignity and needs and they define who we are, secure us and give us the capacity to integrate, mix and live in our communities. They are critically important. I fully support a constitutional right to housing, and I fully accept that the local authorities are not doing enough in delivering social housing, which is critical. We had programmes that delivered houses in this country from the 1930s through to the 1960s. There were people living in those houses who did not come into them because of social need but bought them subsequently. They are beautiful homes.

Many of them are in south County Dublin, where I live. The delegates may be aware of these difficulties. What have I learned from today? I have learned that we have neither a statutory nor a constitutional right to basic shelter or housing, as Ms Keatinge stated. There is no constitutional or statutory right to shelter for homeless children or families. That is a terrible thing. Legal aid is not available for housing or homeless matters. That is a big challenge. The ombudsman raised this issue previously. I am aware of the limitations of his office, as is he. There is a serious issue there which must be examined.

As Ms Keatinge stated, local authorities have a discretion to provide emergency accommodation for children and families but are not obliged to so do. That is a terrible indictment of our system and State. I do not need to teach the delegates. I have learned from them today. The minutes of this meeting will be important. What the committee does as a result of today's discussion and our consideration of it will be important. I ask the delegates to keep the pressure on the committee and other people, and we will keep the pressure on the political establishment in the Oireachtas.

There are 81 constitutions which provide special status and protection for children. I am particularly interested in the Scottish model, about which I have read. I ask the representatives to share with the committee their knowledge of constitutional provisions in other countries for the protection of homes for children and the constitutional right to housing which we discuss at this committee because it is a very important aspect and a matter to which we need to recommit ourselves. I ask those who are familiar with the Scottish model to share their understanding or experience in that regard.

I say "Well done" to the representatives. They are advocates who shine a light in many dark places. The committee also has that task. We can work together. We would be failing if we do not go from here, analyse what is being said, paraphrase it, bullet point it and get it to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, as well as the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government. In addition to being a housing and homelessness issue, this is about cherishing the children of our State equally, giving them opportunities and safeguards, protecting them for the future and allowing them to grow to their potential. I have no doubt that these matters will be the subject of an international investigation and that the State will be hauled up to account for its failures. They will be the subject of a very expensive redress scheme because of the damage the State is inflicting on children and families. I thank the delegates for their time and for sharing their personal experience in terms of their caseloads and work. This is a very important day's work but it will be a better day's work if we go from here committed to pulling all of this together and heaping pressure on anyone that matters in terms of Government policy.