A report released yesterday has found that young people at risk in north east inner city Dublin may not get the help they need because of poor co-ordination between service providers.
The Young People at Risk (YPAR) Initiative Strategic Plan calls for an integrated approach to working with young people through pooling existing resources and avoiding duplication of services. It also called for more community input into the development and use of resources.
The report was prepared as part of the YPAR initiative, which includes voluntary, statutory and community organisations brought together to promote the co-ordination of services to young people in the north east inner city.
Partners in YPAR include the Inner City Organisations Network, the Health Service Executive, the Department of Education, Garda Síochána, Probation and Welfare, Local Drug Task Force and the Education Welfare Board.
The report defines a child at risk as someone aged up to 18 years, experiencing severe personal, family, educational and/or social problems which could benefit from outside support.
Joe Lucey, co-chairman of the YPAR initiative, said that one young person might be getting assistance from a juvenile liaison officer, a public health nurse, a social worker and a home school liaison officer at the same time, as well as being involved in a local youth group.
"The resources going in to try to meet this young person's needs are going in separately," he said.
The report was launched by the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who said that getting organisations to work together is not a new problem.
"Improved outcomes for young people require more investment but that alone is not sufficient," he said. "We need to be strategic and effective in planning and using the resources available."
