Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for participating and for their concise presentations. I thank Mr. Kenny. In my interactions with the four Dublin authorities, it is him whom I usually call first. I acknowledge his significant role, assistance and support. From time to time, all of us politicians encounter people who are facing homelessness. They are not in the black area or the white area, but in the grey area in the middle. There are issues and an immediate need for support, and I have always found Mr. Kenny's door to be open. More importantly, I have found him and the four local authorities to be supportive. I tend to go to him. I apologise for that, but I know he gets things done.

I wish to concentrate on two matters in the time available to me, those being, children and other young people in homelessness. A staggering number of young children are homeless. We know that children in homelessness suffer higher rates of anxiety, illness and disease infection, difficulties in education, poor nutrition and obesity. All of these issues have been spelled out for us, but these children also face difficulties from moving around and being unsure of where their homes are. They are homeless. There are major issues concerning the emotional stability and vulnerability of these children and their mothers, parents, guardians or whoever is with them. Will Ms Leahy outline to the committee her first-hand experience of the challenges and difficulties associated with homeless children and young people?

We know anecdotally, from experts and from everyone working on the ground, that the cohort of people of 17 to 28 years of age who are transitioning from detention in the prison system or institutional care is exceptionally vulnerable in a range of ways. When someone is homeless, he or she is vulnerable to exploitation, prostitution, alcohol, drugs, crime and other travesties that damage people's lives.

There are significant challenges with integrating, mixing and socialising the same cohort of people. We have to do something about that group. I ask the witnesses to focus on the significant challenges of homelessness for young children and their parents, who are invariably young too, and the challenges relating to people coming from institutional care. I would like to hear first-hand experiences. I ask Ms Leahy to address it first and I would be interested to hear other people's views.