Hildegarde Naughton (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I, too, welcome the Minister. This is welcome and progressive legislation and the Minister and his officials are to be commended. When enacted, the legislation will ensure aftercare plans will be put in place for all eligible children and young people leaving State care. This is the first time, as far as I am aware, that children and young people will have the right to an aftercare plan, which will ensure the smooth transition from State care to independent living. Of course, independent living may also include returning to their families. It is an important development in our child care legislation.

In the normal course of events, the transition to adulthood is difficult for most people. According to a study by the Dublin Institute of Technology, there are three distinct types of transition from residential care: those who had a smooth transition; those who had experienced an unstable transition but whose circumstances improved over time; and those whose transition was volatile or considerably more problematic and who are still mired in precarious social circumstances. The transitions highlight the diversity of the participants' experiences in such a way as to emphasise more clearly the supports that enable a successful transition and the barriers that lead to social exclusion. The findings indicate that the participants' outcomes upon leaving a residential setting were ultimately dependent on a number of factors, such as the level of preparation given prior to leaving residential care, the level of the young person's involvement in the leaving care process, the type of post-care housing and accommodation offered and the availability or absence of resources and supports after residential care. It is, therefore, obvious how important are the issues being addressed in this legislation.

While I welcome the proposed plans for aftercare living, they do not replace the need for proper resourcing. This is a very good first step and I know we can rely on the Minister to ensure, as far as possible, that the words here are followed up with actions. Once the Bill is passed by the Oireachtas, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, will be required to prepare an aftercare plan for an eligible child or young person. This is recognition of the particular challenges facing young adults leaving State care.

In respect of early years services, the legislation will enable the Child and Family Agency to visit the premises where it is proposed to carry out an early years service prior to the registration of the premises, in order to confirm that the premises complies with the requirements under part 7A of the Child Care Act 1991. That is a most welcome development. There is no point in having a service available if it is substandard. All the evidence points to how successful early years services are but they depend on quality, and quality includes the physical environment.

This legislation is very welcome. It recognises the special position of young adults leaving State care, sometimes after spending a considerable part of their lives within it. This legislation provides help to those young adults who have no family or social network to support them. We have come a long way from the Magdalen laundries and the workhouses. I commend the Minister and his officials on bringing forward this legislation.