Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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197. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will legally mandate local authorities to ensure that the needs of every homeless child should be assessed, including but not limited to factors such as access to their school, medical and therapeutical needs, and also supporting family relationships and wider social support. [23369/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Local authorities may provide emergency accommodation to those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. It is the role of the housing welfare officers to assess the needs of families and children presenting as homeless and in need of accommodation.

Under the Children First Act 2015 and Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017, where a child protection or child welfare concern may arise, this should be referred by local authority mandated personnel to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.

Tusla commissions a wide range of services within local areas to support families with children who are accessing emergency accommodation. Tusla works closely with local authorities and their housing welfare officers to ensure that supports are made available to families and children where appropriate. The Minister cannot legally mandate local authorities to ensure that the needs of every homeless child should be assessed as local authorities do not come under the remit of this Department.