Menu
19/10/2010
Homeless Children Levels 'Very Disturbing'
A Labour TD has described the level of homeless children as "very disturbing" after fresh figures were released in a report today by the HSE.
Seanad Group Leader and Spokesperson on Children, Senator Alex White, said the figures indicated almost 800 children ended up homeless and in need of emergency accommodation last year.
The Senator said the figures reflected the failure of childcare services to intervene early enough in the lives of children at risk.
Speaking today, Senator White said: "Early intervention is crucial. Once a problem with a child or family escalates and becomes out of control, young people are much more vulnerable and likely to end up homeless. We need services to help prevent these problems before they get to this stage.
"While these individual cases have been handled by the HSE as they arise, with most of these children then being placed in some form of accommodation, the fact is that were proper preventative measures in place in the first place, a crisis could well have been avoided in many instances."
The Senator added that Ireland's childcare system had a whole range of problems, with children in state care of the HSE, but who have not been allocated a social worker.
The HSE figures revealed a quarter of homeless people were under 12, with many ending-up in emergency accommodation in hospitals and Garda stations, with one child forced to take shelter in an internet cafe.
The statistics showed the majority of homeless kids lived in Dublin.
Children’s charity Baranardos said they were seriously concerned about the figures.
Spokesperson Fergus Fingley’s said once a child is on the street, its very hard to gain stability again.
"How can we say that we are looking after these vulnerable youngsters, when we can't even provide them a caring professional to be their advocate?"
(DW/KMcA)
Seanad Group Leader and Spokesperson on Children, Senator Alex White, said the figures indicated almost 800 children ended up homeless and in need of emergency accommodation last year.
The Senator said the figures reflected the failure of childcare services to intervene early enough in the lives of children at risk.
Speaking today, Senator White said: "Early intervention is crucial. Once a problem with a child or family escalates and becomes out of control, young people are much more vulnerable and likely to end up homeless. We need services to help prevent these problems before they get to this stage.
"While these individual cases have been handled by the HSE as they arise, with most of these children then being placed in some form of accommodation, the fact is that were proper preventative measures in place in the first place, a crisis could well have been avoided in many instances."
The Senator added that Ireland's childcare system had a whole range of problems, with children in state care of the HSE, but who have not been allocated a social worker.
The HSE figures revealed a quarter of homeless people were under 12, with many ending-up in emergency accommodation in hospitals and Garda stations, with one child forced to take shelter in an internet cafe.
The statistics showed the majority of homeless kids lived in Dublin.
Children’s charity Baranardos said they were seriously concerned about the figures.
Spokesperson Fergus Fingley’s said once a child is on the street, its very hard to gain stability again.
"How can we say that we are looking after these vulnerable youngsters, when we can't even provide them a caring professional to be their advocate?"
(DW/KMcA)
Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
28 September 2018
Latest Monthly Homeless Figures 'Meaningless'
The latest monthly homeless figures have been described as "meaningless" by Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin. Deputy Ó Broin made the comment after the Minister for Housing Simon Coveney told the Housing Committee this afternoon that an additional 741 people have been removed from the official figures over the past few months.
Latest Monthly Homeless Figures 'Meaningless'
The latest monthly homeless figures have been described as "meaningless" by Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin. Deputy Ó Broin made the comment after the Minister for Housing Simon Coveney told the Housing Committee this afternoon that an additional 741 people have been removed from the official figures over the past few months.
03 May 2018
Housing Minister Accused Of 'Knowingly Manipulating Homeless Figures'
The Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy has been accused of "knowingly manipulating the March homeless figures". Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin has called on the Minister to "admit that he and his Department officials instructed Councils to remove families in emergency accommodation arrangements from the March homeless figures".
Housing Minister Accused Of 'Knowingly Manipulating Homeless Figures'
The Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy has been accused of "knowingly manipulating the March homeless figures". Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin has called on the Minister to "admit that he and his Department officials instructed Councils to remove families in emergency accommodation arrangements from the March homeless figures".
31 March 2016
Parties Refusing To Talk To Each Other 'Farcical' - SF
Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil's refusal to talk to each other has been described as a "farce" and is "impeding TDs from doing their jobs", Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane has said.
Parties Refusing To Talk To Each Other 'Farcical' - SF
Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil's refusal to talk to each other has been described as a "farce" and is "impeding TDs from doing their jobs", Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane has said.
15 July 2016
Govt Accused Of Letting Homeless Children 'Fall Through The Cracks'
Homeless children are "falling through the cracks of the child welfare system", Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs, Anne Rabbitte, has said. Expressing "deep concern", Deputy Rabbitte accused the government and Tusla of failing to address "the crisis of child homelessness which is gripping the country".
Govt Accused Of Letting Homeless Children 'Fall Through The Cracks'
Homeless children are "falling through the cracks of the child welfare system", Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs, Anne Rabbitte, has said. Expressing "deep concern", Deputy Rabbitte accused the government and Tusla of failing to address "the crisis of child homelessness which is gripping the country".
26 February 2019
Govt Accused Of 'Dragging Its Heels' On Independent Inspection Regime
The government has been accused of "dragging its heels" on the introduction of a quality standards framework and an independent inspection regime for emergency accommodation.
Govt Accused Of 'Dragging Its Heels' On Independent Inspection Regime
The government has been accused of "dragging its heels" on the introduction of a quality standards framework and an independent inspection regime for emergency accommodation.
-
Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
