Dáil debates

Wednesday, 3 April 2019

Educational Supports for Children Experiencing Homelessness: Motion [Private Members]

 

4:30 pm

Photo of Mary ButlerMary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Figures released by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government last week indicated that there are currently 3,784 children living in emergency accommodation. There is no apparent Government policy to cater for the educational needs of children who are homeless or living in emergency accommodation. Regardless of where a child is living, he or she needs the security of education - whether primary or secondary - in familiar surroundings with his or her friends. The Department of Education and Skills does not collect information on children in education who are experiencing homelessness nor does it have in place a specific strategy to support such children in this extremely challenging situation.

Children experiencing homelessness face massive disruption to their lives. Many have already experienced their family losing a home. Some may have experienced a relationship break-up or financial stress in the household. As a result, children's capacity for learning and ability to develop and retain relationships is negatively impacted. The challenges many families face when trying to remain positive and confident about their children's education when homeless and living in emergency accommodation, perhaps in a hub or hotel room, are absolutely immense. For many children, school is one of the only areas of stability in their lives.

I recently dealt with a young family who unfortunately became homeless in Dungarvan due to their rented accommodation becoming unavailable to them. The family of two adults and two children had to present to Waterford City and County Council in Waterford city as this is the only place in the county where homeless services are dealt with. They were subsequently accommodated in Waterford city on a temporary basis. The children, aged three and five, were enrolled in school in Dungarvan, which is an hour's travel from Waterford city by bus. As their accommodation was a short-term solution, the parents believed it was best to continue to bring their children to school in Dungarvan. Every day for six weeks, these young children undertook the two-hour return journey. While the children were in school the parents, one of whom had a disability, had to wait in Dungarvan until they finished school, each at a different time. Thankfully the family is now living back in Dungarvan, where their housing needs are met.

What struck me most about these parents was that, had it not been the case that the dad had free travel due to a disability, they would not have been able to afford the bus fares from Waterford to Dungarvan and back five days a week. That was the problem. Perhaps this is something the Minister of State could bring up with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. The family was lucky from the point of view that they had free travel which enabled them to keep the children in the security of their education. They also knew that their housing situation was going to last only a short length of time. This is not the case for all families. The fact that they would not have been able to afford this travel was the one issue this mother asked me to raise. I know that is not a matter only for the Department of Education and Skills, but for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. The cost of transport to maintain continuity of schooling for people who have to move outside their normal locations is an issue which certainly needs to be given consideration. We are all in agreement that continuity of schooling is very important for all children, regardless of where they live.

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