John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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588. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the necessary one-off supports being put in place for care leavers to gain practical lifelong skills in line with action 69 of the Ryan report in order to reduce their risk of developing substance use problems. [53291/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The aftercare provisions of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 came into force on 1 September 2017. This means that there is now a statutory obligation on Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to prepare an aftercare plan for each eligible child and young person. This plan encompasses the range of supports that a young person may need from all service providers to help them make the transition to independent adult life.

Tusla Aftercare Workers coordinate the implementation of this plan, which aims to ensure that young people leaving care have developed a sufficient level of resilience, as well as important practical life and social skills, to cope with the adversities that they may face in adult life.

The National Drug Strategy, 'Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery: A health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025’ recognises that young people leaving care and detention services, particularly those young people leaving residential or hostel accommodation, are more at risk than the general population for addiction problems.

While it is important to remember that the nature of the transitional support required by a young care-leaver depends on the specific circumstances of his or her individual situation, in some cases the young person may engage in or be at risk of engaging in substance misuse.

In these cases, the young person’s assigned Aftercare Worker will provide him or her with ongoing support to attend services and seek help. The Aftercare Worker may support the young person to refer into a specialist service or General Practitioner, or may make a representation on the young person’s behalf with their consent. In addition, the Aftercare Worker may refer the young adult, with their consent, to the steering committee or alert the appropriate HSE services representative if the young adult is already known to the committee.

Furthermore, where a young care-leaver does not present with substance misuse but substance abuse is noted by the Aftercare Worker, the Worker will discuss their concerns and engage in open discussion with the young person.

Substance abuse should be seen within the context of the other problems a young care-leaver may face. Ultimately, the role of Aftercare is to develop the young person’s resilience and skills so that they can cope with life's challenges and achieve positive outcomes.