Politician(s) lobbied: James Browne (Minister), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Intent: The discussion focused on the significant housing challenges faced by care experienced young people when leaving aftercare. Neil and Ciarán outlined the very real risk of homelessness for young people transitioning out of the system and highlighted practical, achievable solutions to ensure that no young person leaves aftercare without a secure place to call home
Methods: Meeting
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On 25 March
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our Chairperson
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Neil Forsyth
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and Vice Chairperson
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Ciarán Kenny
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held a highly productive meeting in Leinster House with Minister for Housing
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Local Government and Heritage
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James Browne
Politician(s) lobbied: Norma Foley (Minister), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Intent: extending aftercare supports to age 23 for all care leavers
Methods: Meeting
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On 3 March
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the Irish Aftercare Network met Minister Norma Foley to discuss challenges facing care leavers.
Politician(s) lobbied: Norma Foley (Minister), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Intent: Establish a research-driven outcomes framework for care leavers.Achieve legislative reform: needs-based supports, guaranteed housing, extended aftercare to age 25, and decoupling financial aid from education requirements.Introduce a multi-annual, ring-fenced aftercare budget.Reinstate housing priority for care leavers and expand supported accommodation.Increase Tusla funding, cap caseloads at 20, and address funding inequities between statutory and NGO services.
Methods: Submission
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The Irish Aftercare Network (IAN) advocates for systemic reform to ensure young people transitioning from care receive comprehensive
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needs-based supports. Current gaps leave care leavers vulnerable to homelessness
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unemployment
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and social exclusion. IAN recommends a trauma-informed aftercare model
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legislative changes
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dedicated funding
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housing priority
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and structural reforms to Tusla and NGO services.
Politician(s) lobbied: James Browne (Minister), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Intent: Policy and programme reforms to improve housing access and security for care leavers, including targeted allocations and scheme redesign.
Methods: Email
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We submitted recommendations addressing housing insecurity among care leavers and its impact on mental health
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education
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and independen
Politician(s) lobbied: Mary Butler (Minister of State), Department of Health
Intent: To influence the Minister’s messaging and policy priorities so that:The unique needs of care-experienced young people are explicitly referenced in mental health strategies.Trauma-informed, accessible, and continuous mental health supports are prioritised.Systemic barriers (waiting lists, postcode allocation) are addressed in service planning.
Methods: Email
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Mental health supports for care-experienced young people transitioning from care to aftercare.
Politician(s) lobbied: Unknown
Intent: Unknown
Methods: Unknown
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Politician(s) lobbied: Unknown
Intent: Unknown
Methods: Unknown
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Politician(s) lobbied: Roderic O'Gorman (Minister), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Intent: We informed the Minister that many IAN members have been in contact to express their fears about the future of aftercare services in the context of Tusla's imminent Structural Reform Programme. . A discussion was had with Minister with regard to importance of not diluting aftercare as a standalone discipline and likelihood that aftercare workers will be drawn into other areas of work not related to aftercare. Related it back to the issue of no ring-fenced budget for aftercare services
Methods: Meeting
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IAN committee members pointed out to the Minister that the lack of a ring-fenced budget for aftercare is a concern and seriously impedes the ability of Tusla to plan ahead and implement goals of the aftercare strategy.• Two further issues were highlighted - housing and raising the age limit for aftercare support.
Politician(s) lobbied: Unknown
Intent: Unknown
Methods: Unknown
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Politician(s) lobbied: Unknown
Intent: Unknown
Methods: Unknown
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