A charity supporting young people in care has welcomed the announcement that data collected by the State on those who leave care aged 18 but receive aftercare services will be available shortly.
“Up to date, reliable, and relevant data will help to ensure that required services can be identified and accurately costed, and provide better value for money,” said Empowering Young People in Care (Epic) in a statement.
The charity said recent reports highlight the “tragic outcomes” for children leaving care without adequate support.
“The huge gaps that currently exist in the level of aftercare service provision must no longer be tolerated,” its statement read, adding that reliable data “will help highlight the disparities that currently exist in terms of access to, and provision of aftercare.”
More than 100 young people are on the waiting list for aftercare in north Dublin alone, according to the charity – and many of those with aftercare support are said to be experiencing delays in accessing benefits.
“It is unacceptable that any young person leaving the care of the state should be placed on a waiting list for aftercare support,” said Epic director Jennifer Gargan. “The weeks and months after a young person leaves the care system are a crucial and pivotal time for young people.
“Financial, social and educational supports need to be in place well before a young person turns 18, and the young people themselves must be involved in that planning process.”
Both Epic and the Action for Aftercare coalition have called on Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald, to place aftercare on a statutory footing ahead of the rollout of the National Aftercare Policy in February 2012.
