To ask the Minister of Health whether, in the last 18 months, his Department has received data from the Home Office or Mears PLC relating to the number of children currently living in contingency accommodation.

My Department sought and received information from the Home Office on the number of children living in contingency accommodation in June 2022.

Mears provides information to Health and Social Care Trusts about the number of people residing in contingency accommodation, to assist with the planning and provision of services. The Public Health Agency has confirmed that it has also requested information to be provided by Mears on an ongoing basis from September 2022, in order to support service planning and delivery.

In addition, arrangements are in place with Mears to make a referral to the relevant Trust where a child arrives without a parent or legal guardian, including where they may be in the company of an adult sibling, to ensure that Trusts can fulfil their statutory obligations to these children.

My officials have met recently with representatives from the Children’s Law Centre and the South Tyrone Empowerment Programme to discuss the issue of children living in contingency accommodation. It was agreed that my Department would urgently consider what further action can be taken to ensure that the Health and Social Care Service is able to fulfil its responsibilities to children and their families living in contingency accommodation, including identifying any additional data requirements.