There is no doubt that children and young people have been severely impacted by the introduction of a wide range of restrictions introduced since March 2020. We know this through our interactions with our own children and with young people in our families, and in our communities. As we emerge from the pandemic it is clear that we need a Covid recovery plan for all children and young people in Ireland, and, most particularly, those experiencing disadvantage. This was a success and it resulted in an almost 40% reduction in family homelessness at the end of 2020 compared to 2019. There is a need to step-up efforts to tackle child and family homelessness, particularly for those who are disproportionately impacted, including one-parent families, Traveller families, families with disabilities, and people leaving Direct Provision.

Source: Irish Examiner February 25, 2022 05:30 UTC