Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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39. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when a decision will be made to the request for 24-hour services at a location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31161/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Tusla has two emergency children's residential centres that cater for young people in need of emergency care. One of these is the centre referred to by Deputy O’Sullivan, which is based in Dublin city centre. The young people receive a 24 hour seamless service. For operational reasons, the service for the young people during the day is located nearby.

This dedicated service for the young people operates during the day, at weekends and public holidays. Its aim is to support each young person individually and to tailor the service to their unique needs. Young people may continue to attend school or training courses or, where this is not the case, a project worker will work with them during the day. The project worker will engage with all aspects of the young the person's needs including bringing them to meetings and other appointments, making contact, as appropriate, with their family and keeping in contact with the social work team from the child's home area. The aim of the services is to ensure the young person's stay in the emergency residential centre is for as short a period as possible. This approach, of individual support outside of the emergency centre, also means that if a young person is out of home for the first time, they do not spend all day with other young people who are frequently out of home, or who have persistent problems. This prevents the normalisation of a situation which should be, and usually is, exceptional.

All children under 16 year old in the situation of being homeless without their parents are taken into care. In some cases young people in the 16-17 year age group are resistant to this option, and they are offered full support care services appropriate to their needs.