Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

The staff in my Department are acutely aware of the challenges faced by young people who leave care and are available to them to assist with the provision of social protection income and employment supports. The Department's staff engage with a range of stakeholders and advocacy groups working with vulnerable people. For instance in Dublin, staff engage with the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive and in the local network of children and young people's services committees as part of the process of co-ordinating the delivery of supports to vulnerable people, including the group the Deputy has referred to, those leaving care. There is legislative provision that age-related reduced jobseeker’s allowance rates do not apply to young jobseekers who were in the care of Tusla for any period during the 12 months immediately before their 18th birthday. The full standard rate of personal jobseeker’s allowance of €244 per week is payable in these circumstances.

With regard to the specific issue mentioned by the Deputy, we operate a person-focused national protocol in conjunction with other agencies to help those who are homeless. Importantly, a person does not need a permanent address to apply for a social protection payment or service or to receive a social welfare payment. Where necessary, short-term rent supplement can be paid by my Department. This scheme provides financial support to people living in private rented accommodation whose means cannot meet their accommodation costs and where accommodation is not available to them from any other source. That could include somebody leaving care on their 18th birthday. Also, additional needs payments are available to assist those who have essential expenses such as rent deposits, rent in advance and household bills that they cannot pay from their weekly income. This full range of supports is available to young people leaving care. We work in conjunction not just with the statutory authorities but with advocacy groups as well to address this. I am more than open to suggestions as to how we tighten this up.

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