Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2026
594. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the supports in place for those leaving foster care at the age of 18 years where those young persons may still need certain assistance. [46864/26]
View answerTusla’s aftercare service is the primary support for young people who have left care. Young people who have had a care history with Tusla are entitled to access this aftercare service based on their eligibility and assessed needs. The assessment of need considers a number of factors including the young person’s needs in relation to education, financing and budgeting matters, training and employment, health and well-being, personal and social development, accommodation, and family support.
Upon reaching the age of 18, a young person is deemed to have left State care. All eligible care leavers are supported through aftercare services provided by Tusla. Care leavers, depending on need, may be allocated an aftercare worker. All care leavers, without exception or age limit, can attend drop-in services organised by the Tusla aftercare service.
The Child Care Act 1991 (as amended) sets out that aftercare eligibility applies to those up to the age of 21 who were in the care of the Child and Family Agency for a period of not less than 12 months in the 5 year period immediately prior to the person attaining the age of 18 years.
Tusla provides financial support to eligible care leavers who are engaged in a qualifying educational course or training programme. The aftercare allowance amounts to €300 per week and is dependent on the eligible young adult attending an accredited education course, third level course or training programme as outlined in the young adult’s aftercare plan. The allowance is provided to cover a young adult’s day to day costs, including accommodation, as they progress in their education or training.
Additionally, the Child Care Act sets out that the aftercare assessment of need will include the young person’s needs in relation to accommodation. The majority of young people who leave the care of the State each year, having reached 18, do so with secure, stable, safe accommodation in place such as remaining with their foster carers, moving to independent living or returning home to live with their families. The primary responsibility for housing lies with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the local authorities. Currently, care-leavers who are at risk of homeless are assisted by the Child and Family Agency, in partnership with other Government Departments or agencies. Since 2017, care-leavers have also been included as a separate category for funding under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS). This scheme provides targeted assistance to the most vulnerable care leavers by enabling Approved Housing Bodies to acquire residential units to accommodate them. Additionally, the Youth Homelessness Strategy, which launched in 2022, adopted a whole-of-Government approach, identifying care-leavers as a cohort who are particularly at risk of becoming homeless, and setting out specific actions for identified vulnerable cohorts.
Work is also underway on The National Policy Framework for Alternative Care. The Framework will aim to articulate a future and Whole of Government vision of alternative care in Ireland, including aftercare, and will also deliver on a Programme for Government commitment in this regard. A robust consultation process was undertaken to support the development of the National Policy Framework, through which the views of members of the public, stakeholders, key workers and carers, and people with care experience were captured. The Framework is expected to be delivered in the coming months.
