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Paul O'Meara, 13 Jun
Legislation should be enacted to ensure that the best interests of
children are prioritised when decisions are made about homeless
services.
Kildare County Council is to urges the Minister for Housing, Local
Government and Heritage to ensure this happens.
This follows a call by Cllr Aidan Farrelly at a KCC meeting. He said
there are 3,500 children in temporary accommodation.
“This is an emergency,” he said, adding that if the best interests of
children are not part of policy it could mean that best practice will
not exist.
In a report to a KCC meeting, official Annette Aspell said that the
government’s objective for the eradication of homelessness includes an
increase in social housing provision and the promotion of social
inclusion.
Read more Kildare news
A number of specific objectives relating to families and children have
been identified including the provision of homes to households at risk
of or experiencing homelessness; targeted prevention and early
intervention services for families and children at risk of homelessness
and the provision of supports to families and children in emergency
accommodation to secure pathways out of homelessness.
Other provisions included enhanced tenancy sustainment support for
families and children in long term homelessness; the provision of
housing assistance payment to prevent homelessness or assist families
experiencing homelessness as well a building on child and family
supports.
Ms Aspell said the best interests of children are considered when
homeless assessments are being carried out and homeless placements are
being made.
She added that KCC is implementing a number of measures to prevent and
tackle homelessness.