Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I cannot second-guess the decision to disallow the proposed amendment and I am slightly restricted in what I can say. The existing section 5 of the 1991 Child Care Act talks about suitable accommodation. It does not go into the detail of laundry facilities, toilets, wash basins or recreational facilities, which are all very admirable and things we would expect. In order to reflect what we consider to be appropriate and civilised standards of accommodation for anyone, HIQA will be facilitated in the course of this year, pursuant to the Ryan implementation plan, to inspect all facilities provided for young people, homeless or otherwise. It has its own standards which are reflected in the youth homeless strategy which sets out some of what is expected of State provision for children in need of accommodation.

Regardless of whether the proposed requirements would impose a charge on the State, I am perplexed that the amendment refers only to the standard of accommodation and not to other issues such as the location of the accommodation and its proximity to the young person's family, education, employment, training and other standards. These are normally dealt with in strategies, guidelines and statutory instruments rather than in the substantive body of legislation.

I hope it will provide some reassurance for Members to know that the original section 5 which the amendment would have replaced talks about available suitable accommodation. The standards are outlined in the strategy which is enforced by HIQA which, I think everyone would agree, is having an effect on all health services and particularly on child protection and welfare.