No legal right to aftercare for over-18s

IT’S looking increasingly unlikely that Minister for Children Barry Andrews will sanction legislation obliging the HSE to provide aftercare to children leaving care aged 18.

A Childcare Amendment Act is going through the Oireachtas at present and Focus Ireland has been campaigning for the amendment to include aftercare as a right and not a discretionary service.

In an answer to a parliamentary question from Noel Ahern TD, Mr Andrews said he is “currently giving consideration to the legal position with regard to the provision of aftercare services, having regard to the existing legislative provisions as set out in the Child Care Act 1991”.