Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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69. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the analysis undertaken or being undertaken by her Department of the effects, both short- and long-term, on children and their development of homelessness; the way in which this analysis is guiding her Department's policy on the protection of children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43788/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I am committed to helping children and families as part of a whole-of-Government response to the problem of homelessness. This Government recognises that homelessness is an extremely distressing situation for any family, and living in emergency accommodation is not conducive to normal family life. While my Department has no role in providing housing for families, we are working closely with Tusla to provide supports for families in emergency accommodation in order to mitigate the challenges faced by parents and children in this situation.

My Department has undertaken a number of actions as part of Rebuilding Ireland: the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. These include co-funding a study on food access and nutritional health among families residing in hotel accommodation in the Dublin Region. Free childcare has been introduced for the children of families experiencing homelessness. As part of this scheme a daily meal is provided for each child, the cost of which is included in the subvention rate.

Family Resource Centres, part funded by Tusla, are working with people who are experiencing homelessness. Many have developed local responses based on their own analysis of the needs of families in emergency accommodation. Actions taken by Tusla include the provision of funding for child support workers and the appointment of a Homelessness Liaison Officer. In recognition of the difficulties associated with homelessness and school attendance, Tusla’s Educational Welfare Service offers a number of supports to children and families experiencing homelessness. Tusla works together with other statutory and voluntary agencies to provide services and supports to children, young people and families experiencing homelessness.

Tusla’s joint protocol with the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) covers child welfare and protection matters for children in emergency accommodation. It is fully operational in the DRHE areas and it is intended to replicate this protocol across the State. A Joint Working Protocol between Tusla and Galway City Council and their contracted services providers was co-signed by Tusla and the City Council in July. Galway County Council has agreed to meet with Tusla in the coming weeks to discuss a similar protocol.

The DRHE is coordinating the development of a comprehensive National Quality Standards Framework for homeless services on behalf of all housing authorities. Consultation with service users and key stakeholders, including Tusla, has been undertaken and the draft standards have been piloted in selected services. These standards, including a child safety element which will provide homeless services with a framework for continuous quality improvement, will be implemented nationally.

Ultimately, my concern is that we minimise and then eliminate the problem of homelessness. In the meantime, I will continue to support measures to help those affected, to the greatest degree possible within my area of responsibility.