PART 3: CHILDREN'S OUTCOMES - SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIOURAL

Education Outcomes
Enrolment in early childhood care and education :: Attendance at school :: Transfer to second-level education :: Achievement in reading literacy, mathematics and science
Health Outcomes
Birth weight :: Breastfeeding practice :: Chronic health conditions and hospitalisation :: Disability :: Abuse and neglect
Social, Emotional and Behavioural Outcomes
Participation in decision making :: Reading as a leisure activity :: Use of tobacco :: Alcohol use :: Drug use :: Sexual health and behaviour :: Self-esteem :: Self-reported happiness :: Youth suicide :: Physical activity :: Youth homelessness :: Nutritional habits

Youth Homelessness

Homelessness among children and young people is one of the most significant forms of social exclusion. ⁵¹ Children and young people who are homeless are vulnerable to victimisation of all types. ⁵²

Measure

The number and rate per 100,000 children who appeared to the Health Service Executive (HSE) to be homeless.

Key findings

In 2006, the total number of children who appeared to the HSE to be homeless was 449. This equates to an overall rate of youth homelessness of 43.3 children per 100,000 (see Table 84).
32.1% (144) of children who appeared to the HSE to be homeless were in the HSE South region; 30.3% (136) were in HSE Dublin North-East; 24.1% (108) were in HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster; and the remaining 13.6% (61) were in HSE West.

Table 84: Number of children who appeared to HSE to be homeless, by HSE Region (2006)

HSE Region	Total
Dublin Mid-Leinster	108
Dublin North-East	136
West	61
South	144
State	449
Rate per 100,000	43.3

Source: Childcare Interim Dataset, HSE

Download Table 84 Microsoft Excel file

Differences by gender and age

55% (247) of children who appeared to the HSE to be homeless were aged 16-17; 27.8% (125) were aged 14-15; 8% (36) were aged 12-13; and the remaining 9.1% (41) were less than 12 years-old (see Table 85).

Table 85: Number of children who appeared to HSE to be homeless, by age and HSE Region (2006)

HSE Region	Under 12 years	12-13 years	14-15 years	16-17 years	Total
Dublin Mid-Leinster	38	12	19	39	108
Dublin North-East	2	20	51	63	136
West	1	3	13	44	61
South	0	1	42	101	144
State	41	36	125	247	449

Source:Childcare Interim Dataset, HSE

Download Table 85 Microsoft Excel file

There were no significant differences between boys and girls (see Table 86): 52.1% (234) of children who appeared to the HSE to be homeless were boys and 47.9% (215) were girls.

Table 86: Number of homeless children, by gender and HSE Region (2006)

HSE Region	Boys	Girls	Total
Dublin Mid-Leinster	60	48	108
Dublin North-East	67	69	136
West	32	29	61
South	75	69	144
State	234	215	449

Source: HBSC Survey

Download Table 86 Microsoft Excel file

Technical notes
The data used here are collated by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and therefore include only those children and young people who are known to the HSE. A 2002 study showed high levels of under-reporting of homelessness. ⁵³

⁵¹OMCYA (2006) State of the Nation's Children: Ireland 2006, Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Dublin: The Stationery Office. Available at: www.childrensdatabase.ie OR www.omc.gov.ie

⁵²Mayock, P. and Vekic, K. (2006) Understanding Youth Homelessness: Key findings from the first phase of a longitudinal cohort study, Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Dublin: The Stationery Office.

⁵³Williams, J. and Gorby, S. (2002) Counted in 2002: The Report of the Assessment of Homelessness in Dublin. Dublin: ESRI and Homeless Agency.

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