What effect will the Children (Leaving Care) Bill have on young homeless people?
25. Mr Mackle: The Children (Leaving Care) Bill should be properly resourced. Several organisations, including First Key NI, have reservations about social services taking on the housing and social security budget, combined with their own budget. There is also the difficulty of whether there will be any extra money involved, or will it just be a movement of budgets. I have not considered the Children (Leaving Care) Bill in my submission, and I presume that the Committee will be hearing representations from First Key NI and other organisations that care for children leaving care. 26. The Acting Chairperson: We may not. However, we would value your views if they were submitted separately. 27. Mr Mackle: Certainly. 28. Mr B Hutchinson: What would you include in a framework of need in Northern Ireland, if we had one? Would it tell us how to protect young people aged 16 and 17? 29. Mr Mackle: The legislation is in place to prevent 16- and 17-year-old homeless children from falling through t
