Calls for a body independent of the Eastern Regional Health Authority to monitor services for young people out of home continued at the weekend.
The Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin, last week rejected such a move following the case of the 16-year-old rape and torture victim who was homeless for months up to last week.
However, Focus Ireland, which had contacted the health board concerning the girl on a number of occasions, has added its voice to that of Father Peter McVerry in seeking an independent body.
"Focus Ireland is anxious that action is taken straight away to ensure the better future provision and co-ordination of services for young people that are out of home and has called for the establishment of an independent board to monitor these services as recommended in the Report of the Forum on Youth Homelessness in April this year," it said in a statement.
Focus Ireland has been campaigning for services for homeless children in Dublin since 1985. Research by the organisation, then known as Focus Point, convinced both the public and the authorities of the problem.
Childcare workers have also told The Irish Times that they are anxious for a new structure.
Mr Martin, however, insists that the Eastern Regional Health Authority is itself an independent body. The ERHA was formed in March when the Eastern Health Board was replaced by three area health boards and the authority.
At the weekend, Mr Martin announced that a director of youth homelessness would be appointed by the ERHA. This official would have responsibility for planning and monitoring services across the three area health boards. He also promised the establishment of "dedicated teams" in each of the three area health boards, led by an assistant chief executive officer.
The Forum on Youth Homelessness represents the views of both voluntary and statutory bodies on how to deal with the situation. Father McVerry, who raised the case of the girl last week, has expressed disappointment at the Minister's stance on the basis that the ERHA's predecessor had failed over the years to deal with youth homelessness.
Mr Martin has, however, responded to complaints of a gulf between frontline workers and top managers by saying that he wants staff, management and staff organisations and unions to work together to implement the response to youth homelessness. He has promised a consultation process with all interested parties and says he has already met both managers and frontline workers.
The Minister has also made it clear that he believed the system failed the girl in the controversy and that lessons needed to be learned very quickly. The ERHA has said it agreed with the Minister's view.
The controversy comes as the preparation of a national strategy on youth homelessness enters its final stages. It will be launched by the Department of Health and Children in September.
In separate statements yesterday, both Focus Ireland and the Minister of State for Children, Ms Mary Hanafin, rejected a report in a Sunday newspaper that the Minister had been briefed by Focus Ireland about the girl's situation.
email: pomorain@irish-times.ie Weblink: www.focusireland.ie (Focus Ireland Website)