Majority of homeless children known to services are in the HSE South area

The majority of homeless children known to the Health Service Executive’s care services are in the HSE South area.

In the third quarter of this year, 14 children aged 17 or younger were categorised as being on section V of the Child Care Act — meaning they are out of home.

New figures reveal 10 of those were in HSE South, three were in HSE West, one was in HSE Dublin North East.

According to the HSE, where it is not possible to return a child who is not at home to his or her parents/carers or to find a temporary placement with relatives or friends, then the HSE Children and Family Services can pursue an Emergency Care Order under the Child Care Act 1991.

The legislation allows for a voluntary reception of the child into the care of the HSE. Furthermore, if grounds for receiving the child into care are not clear, or do not exist and there appears to be no suitable accommodation for the child, the HSE is obliged to provide the child with a place to stay which is suitable for their needs, on an emergency or short-term basis, pending a full assessment.

The HSE also said the long-awaited NCCIS (National Child Care Information System) was still on track.

The project has experienced a number of delays but a HSE spokesperson said: “The finalised contract will be externally reviewed and approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

“As the HSE is currently in a procurement process, it is not appropriate to provide further information at this time.”

The most recent figures available from the HSE garnered through its current system shows that in the third quarter of this year there were 9,778 child abuse referrals between July and the end of September and 10,431 referrals of child welfare concerns.