Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 139: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress she has made in implementing the youth homeless strategy (2001); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47558/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Government has shown significant commitment to tackling youth homelessness. It has done this by targeting significant resources at the youth homeless service in the context of the development of the broader child welfare services. In 2001 the Youth Homelessness Strategy was launched providing a strategic framework for youth homelessness to be tackled on a national basis. The goal of the Strategy is "to reduce and if possible eliminate youth homelessness through preventative strategies and where child becomes homeless to ensure that he/she benefits from a comprehensive range of services aimed at reintegrating him/her into his /her community as quickly as possible."

Aftercare is a key element to achieving positive outcomes for young people leaving care. Aftercare services have been developed in Ireland to assist young people in care in bridging the transition from care to independent adult life in the community. Consideration was given to the legal position with regard to the provisions of aftercare services, having regard to the existing legislative provisions of the Childcare Act 1991. The legal advice is that the Act creates a statutory power and the HSE, as recipient of this power, must put itself in a position where it can exercise the power should the need arise.

In order to ensure that there was no doubt about the matter, and to emphasise the importance of aftercare services, I wrote to the HSE in June clarifying the issue and directing the HSE to formulate and implement aftercare policies. Officials from my Department recently met with the HSE to discuss their draft National Aftercare Policy which is currently in the process of being finalised. In line with the Government commitment as reflected in the Ryan Implementation Plan, funding of €1.0m was set aside by the HSE in its 2010 Service Plan, for the development of aftercare services in 2010.

My Officials have also engaged with the HSE to discuss the linkages between the provision of aftercare and the issue of homelessness for young people and the wider issues attaching to the implementation of the Youth Homeless Strategy for young people becoming homeless who were not formerly known to the childcare services. Work is ongoing to ensure the implementation of the Youth Homeless Strategy in a co-ordinated manner and my officials will be meeting with the HSE in January 2011 to continue the progress in this area.