Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Before I respond to this question, I would like to say that I share the concerns of previous Deputies around the effects on community child care due to the change in regulations.

I have spoken to youth workers in the north inner city of Dublin who meet these young people during the day. While staff in homeless emergency accommodation are doing their best, the reality is that there are young people who are on the street and engaging with other young people who are in addiction, who may be out begging or who are engaging in anti-social behaviour. They are exposed to that, whereas if there were a more dedicated service, they might not get into that kind of behaviour. I know about the youth advocates, but it is my understanding from the other youth workers in the area who meet these young people that there are not enough of those youth advocates. There are not enough services for these young people. I believe that some of the youth advocates are meeting the young people in their cars for a few minutes just to engage with them, so I believe there is a gap there. It would be good to find out some information on this. How many are involved and what are these short times they are in emergency services?

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