Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Homelessness, whether for a child presenting alone or as part of a family, is a distressing experience. My Department has policy responsibility for children under 18 who present as ‘out of home’ without their parent(s) or guardian(s) and any child welfare and protection concerns that may arise in the context of the Child Care Act 1991 . Children under 16 who present as out of home to emergency services are taken into care. Children aged 16 and 17 may be taken into care, or provided with a service under section 5 of the Child Care Act 1991 (accommodation for homeless children).

Children in emergency homeless accommodation are in the care of their parent/s. Homelessness as part of a family group is not, in of itself, a basis for seeking to receive a child into care. A child should only be received into the care of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency where there are welfare or protection concerns. Where there are no welfare or protection concerns, Tusla’s role is to provide family support. A joint protocol between Tusla and the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) governing child welfare and protection matters is fully operational and it is intended to replicate this protocol across the State.

Furthermore, it is worth noting that inRebuilding Ireland: the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness,the Government has committed to ensuring that by mid-2017, hotels are only used in limited circumstances for emergency accommodation for families.

My Department, together with Tusla, is working to provide additional supports for families in emergency accommodation to mitigate the challenges faced by parents and children in this situation. My Department is funding research to identify issues regarding access to food and potential nutritional impacts on families in emergency homeless accommodation. I will be announcing enhanced access to early years services for homeless children in the coming days.

I will continue to work closely with my colleagues in Government and with all relevant agencies to ensure we have a co-ordinated and effective approach to tacking the homelessness issue.