Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the representatives for their opening statement. It was very good to read the report. I have worked in homeless services in the past. I have also been homeless and I know of the challenges that are faced. I was homeless as an adult and not as a young person, so I can only imagine how difficult it is for young people.

Youth homelessness has always been a major issue. Often, the only temporary and emergency accommodation available is in the hostel-like scenario, where young people are often in the same rooms as older people who are more entrenched in homelessness. That creates its own problems. Is there any outreach or in-reach to these facilities by the Simon Community that offers young people supports when they are in emergency accommodation? For example, this housing crisis is probably the worst I have ever seen. I have been an elected representative since 2016 and it is the worst I have seen it. The bespoke places for young people in emergency accommodation are drying up. There are so many people looking for help that is simply not there. In the absence of bespoke young persons' emergency accommodation, does the Simon Community undertake any in-reach to any of the other facilities out there to identify these young people and offer them supports at that level?