Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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820. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to tackle the issue of youth homelessness. [32660/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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My Department commissioned 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. The report, published in July 2013, found that there have been significant improvements in the service response to homelessness of children (that is, not in the care of their parents) in the last 10 years. The range and standard of prevention services and services for children has improved over the past decade and this has contributed to a decrease in the number of children presenting to services as being homeless.

It should of course be noted that policy responsibility for homeless young people, insofar as it extends to my Department, relates to children under 18 and any child welfare and protection concerns that may arise in the context of the Child Care Act 1991. Young people who are homeless, either singly or as part of a family unit and not falling within this category are the responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and local authorities. Young people who were formerly in the care of the State and presently in receipt of aftercare services will, as part of this support, have their accommodation needs identified.

Children who present as being homeless to emergency services are taken into care. Such children are typically more challenging to care for as they may be out of school; have experienced neglect and serious family discord; problematic drug use; have mental health or learning difficulties. These children often wish to be only involved with peers and they may be less inclined to engage with social work services. Services need to provide early and flexible options to engage with these children and to support them beyond their 18th birthday.

Aftercare is the planning and support put in place to meet the needs of a young person who is leaving statutory care at 18 years of age, to assist him/her in making the transition to independent living. The children most vulnerable to homelessness as care leavers are those leaving residential care or short term foster care placements. Children, who come into care late, in their mid to late teens, may not have developed the relationships with staff or aftercare workers that helps them achieve positive outcomes. It is essential that these young people have an opportunity to develop a relationship with a dedicated aftercare worker who will work with them to identify their needs and ensure that services are in place to help provide them with the stability and support they need.

The Child and Family Agency has advised that they are in the process of establishing interagency aftercare committees at local level bringing together Local Authorities, HSE and other statutory and voluntary agencies. These committees will develop interagency wrap around aftercare plans for young people, particularly for those with complex needs, including housing requirements.

A protocol, developed by the Child and Family Agency and the County and City Managers’ Association, in relation to dealing with accommodation issues of young people leaving care, is nearing completion. When agreed and implemented, the protocol will see the relevant local authority housing representative attend aftercare planning meetings with social workers of the Agency in relation to those young people for whom social housing has been identified as the most appropriate form of accommodation support. This, it is hoped, will facilitate a more efficient service for those leaving care in obtaining social housing suitable to their needs.

Furthermore, as the Deputy will be aware, it has been decided to strengthen the legislative provisions regarding aftercare. This is in response to concerns that there was insufficient focus in this area and that such planning was not taking place on a properly structured and consistent basis.

The approach adopted is to impose a statutory duty on the Agency to prepare an aftercare plan for an eligible child or eligible young person. The aim is to create an explicit, as opposed to implicit, statement of the Agency’s duty to satisfy itself as to the child’s or young person’s need for assistance by preparing a plan that identifies those needs for aftercare supports. The draft provisions also clarify the range of agencies providing relevant services with which the Agency will cooperate in the development of the plan.

The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, at its sitting on 1st April, considered the draft aftercare provisions. Following receipt of the Committee’s report, I will consider its content prior to refining the text of the provisions in conjunction with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel.