Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2026
54. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has considered the role of housing insecurity on child welfare; the additional supports she is proposing to improve child welfare in precarious housing situations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47497/26]
View answerThe issue of housing insecurity and supports is, in the main, a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the local authorities. This area does require intervention from other Government Departments such as Department of Social Protection, and Tusla, which comes under the remit of this Department.
The Family Resource Centre Programme and FRCS around the country and which are funded by Tusla, provides information, advice and support to those experiencing homelessness, including signposting to relevant housing services.
Children and Young People’s Services Committees (CYPSC) can assist local services to co-ordinate their response to the needs of children and young people experiencing homelessness, as part of their broader county-level planning. When homelessness is identified as a local priority, CYPSC brings relevant agencies together through a sub-group to coordinate a collaborative response. CYPSC supports and facilitates this work but cannot assume responsibility. Responsibility remains with the relevant local services. The CYPSC's work relies on partnership with the agencies directly engaged in homelessness services. This response could take the form of a targeted activity/group/programme for affected children and young people, parenting supports, family supports, signposting, research evidencing need, training for local services to support them to support children, young people and families experiencing homelessness, or advocacy work.
The Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government’s housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities recognises that homelessness is the single most pressing social issue that Ireland faces and includes the development of a Child and Family Homelessness Action Plan. I understand this Plan will bring together key stakeholders to drive the continued focus on preventing children and families entering emergency accommodation, providing enhanced supports for children experiencing homelessness, as well as measures to accelerate exits and reduce the time spent by children and their families in homeless emergency accommodation.
Tusla Social Workers when providing interventions and when dealing with families, can assist vulnerable families and those in need, by signposting and assisting with access to services such as homelessness supports and to local authorities on housing requirements.
