Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 13 June 2019

Public Accounts Committee

2017 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children and Youth Affairs

9:00 am

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

An issue that is not directly related to the Department but that has a direct bearing on children is child homelessness. What engagement and interaction is there between the Department and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in respect of the issue? The figures have increased steadily. There was a marginal decrease in the rate of child homelessness in the most recent figures but, over the past five or six years, there has been an upward trend in the number of children in emergency accommodation and children who are homeless. It can have a deep impact on them. A recent episode of "Prime Time" highlighted the human side of the matter, where children told their stories and experiences of emergency accommodation. There is a stigma and a lack of certainty, and the fact that the accommodation is not a home has an impact on them. While I accept it is not the Department's direct responsibility, it is clear this has an impact on many children. Will Dr. Lynch comment on the interaction the Department with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government?

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