Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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102. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to report on the work his Department is taking alongside the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the Youth Homeless Strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21649/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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A national Youth Homelessness Strategy was published in November 2022 and aims to help young people aged 18 - 24 years who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. My department is represented on the Youth Homelessness Strategy Steering Group and is responsible for delivering on Action 25 of the Youth Homelessness Strategy. This action is to “Review work experience, placements, training opportunities etc. run by the DSP that are currently available to ensure that they are serving young people experiencing homelessness. Promote awareness of same among homeless service providers. Identify any gaps in provision and make recommendations to address.”

Department officials prepared a comprehensive report and delivered a synopsis of this report to the Youth Homelessness Strategy Steering Group on 4th December 2024 detailing our provision of schemes and services to the homeless. This included;

• An outline of the programme and scheme opportunities from the Department of Social Protection open to those experiencing Youth Homelessness.
• An overview of the Work and Training schemes available to Youth Homelessness including Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, Back to Education Allowance, Community Employment, The Work Placement Experience Programme, JobsPlus and the Wage Subsidy Scheme.
• Access to Employment Supports.
• Community Welfare Service.
• Promoting awareness of our supports.

Housing is a major social and economic challenge that touches every generation. I am very aware of the current difficulties with supply versus demand. While it is acknowledged that it is a fundamental challenge, this Government is working towards finding solutions and the Programme for Government includes a number of actions under the commitment to reduce homelessness and protect vulnerable households.

Achieving these actions will require a cross departmental approach. My department will continue to support families and individuals in private rented accommodation through the provision of Rent Supplement. The scheme ensures that those who were renting, but whose circumstances have changed can continue to meet their rental commitments, reducing the risk of homelessness.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.