Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide an update on her plans to assist young persons trapped in homeless accomodation. [17613/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The definition of youth homelessness includes children that fall into three groups; (i) children who mainly reside with their families but due to an emergency, need care and accommodation immediately, (ii) children and young people who are defined as at risk of homelessness i.e. who may be staying with different friends and acquaintances, who do not have a stable base and (iii) children and young people who are found to be 'sleeping rough'.

Since the National Youth Homelessness Strategy was developed in 2001, a number of different schemes have been put in place to address the different needs of children, that is young people under 18 years who are at risk of homelessness.

- The HSE has put in place a national standardised system whereby Gardaí can access an appropriate place of safety (a foster family) for children found to be at risk or in need of care at night or at weekends. This is provided for under Section 12 of the Child Care Act, 1991. The service has eliminated the placing of children in a hospital setting due to a family emergency. Children stay in the emergency foster care placement for between one and three nights (over a weekend) until the local social work service is available to deal with the case. Examples of when this is needed is where a parent/s may have an emergency admission to hospital, or where a parent is found to be unable or unfit to care for a child in the immediate situation.

- The HSE provides and funds preventative services to identify to children and families to avoid situations where children leave home due to discord or abuse. Theses service include family support, youth services, family therapy and counselling.

- A small number of short term residential hostel places are available to support for young people under 18 who are out of home.

The Programme for Government 2011-2016 commits inter-alia, to (i) end long term homelessness and the need to sleep rough for all (ii) review and update the existing Homeless Strategy.

A review of progress of my Department's National Strategy for Youth Homelessness (for under 18) was undertaken in 2008 by the HSE in conjunction with other agencies, and found that significant progress had been made, especially in the areas of interagency cooperation, early prevention and an ‘out of hours’ service. A major decrease in demand for hostel places was found.

My Department engaged the Centre for Effective Services (CES) to undertake a review of the implementation of the Youth Homelessness Strategy, 2001, to establish the extent that the strategy has been successful and to identify any blockages or challenges to its implementation. CES has consulted with the relevant service providers, NGOs and young people as part of this process. The report is now complete and I plan to publish it shortly.

The Report will indicate that there have been significant improvements in the service response to youth homelessness in the last 10 years. Improved services for children in care, especially for older teenagers are evident. Positive implications of the changed responses to youth homelessness can be deduced from the fact no child under the age of 18 was found to be sleeping rough during the rough sleeper counts conducted by the Dublin Region Homeless in Dublin in November 2011. My Department will examine recommendations in conjunction with the HSE and other Government Departments.

My Department and the HSE are working closely with the Department of the Environment to support young people over 18 years in aftercare, and other vulnerable young people to make the transition to stable accommodation.