Mr. Mike Allen:

Under a Government initiative known as the Tusla capital assistance scheme, CAS, some of the capital assistance money, which is in theory for buying and building property, is being made available to care leavers. This is a really valuable scheme which is just starting. In the medium term, it has the possibility of transforming the situation. If Focus Ireland had a stock of housing, including apartments, which it could make available to young people moving out of care as they become adults and in which we could provide them with support, that could well make a big difference in ten years' time. Focus Ireland provides after-care and support, with Tusla, primarily to young adults who have probably lived in residential care and have the biggest difficulties in entering adulthood. People working in the care services say that one of the big challenges is the preparation for leaving care. Young people are still reaching the age of 18 without basic skills or a plan in place. There is no doubt that considerable improvements are being made but there is still a gap. Tusla has indicated that it envisages a significant increase in the number of care leavers in certain areas in the coming years. There is some very good planning being done with us and other organisations. We are asking how we will be prepared to address the greater numbers coming over the next number of years.

When we are in a housing crisis, the people who will be most badly affected are those who are already vulnerable. We need to compensate for that as a society. If we have a child in care, we are effectively their parents and we need to ensure they are cared for. We have made some steps forward but a great number of people are suffering as a result of the gaps.