Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The object of the action plan to address homelessness, which was launched before Christmas, is to end involuntary long-term homelessness before the end of 2016. In the action plan, which was introduced over the Christmas period, a very large number of additional beds were provided. Up to the Christmas period and the end of December, not all of the beds were taken up and used. Subsequently, as we came into January, the beds were used. From my own conversations with the many I know who work in this area, the initiatives, such as the night café, the bus and the transport supports, seem to have helped significantly those who, unfortunately, are out of home and on the streets.

Deputy O'Sullivan correctly identifies drug addiction and substance abuse issues as being at the heart of many of the difficulties with which those in that unfortunate position must contend. I do not know if the Deputy named the institution. I am not aware of exactly where she is referring to, but if she would give me the detail, I will undertake to have a look at the situation.

The Deputy has raised an important point, and it is a very difficult point for those dealing with both homelessness issues and addiction issues. Different organisations in this city and the country have different approaches. For instance, in the Coolmine centre in my constituency and in town where it also supports various facilities, no doubt the approach is for addicts to become substance free and then to enter into an intensive programme of therapy and rehabilitation. There are also other approaches which involve addicts being on a controlled intake, most frequently of methadone. In the context of not knowing exactly the location or the institution of which the Deputy speaks - I would be happy to talk to her about it in private - I am not quite sure what the situation is. However, for quite a lot of homeless persons, having others, some of whom may exhibit difficult behaviour and may have mental health issues, come into their space in a situation where, with difficulty, they are addressing their issues is certainly a difficult issue to address. I understood that the different organisations, under their different remits and mandates, were approaching it in line with their particular philosophies. If Deputy O'Sullivan believes that some group has been impacted on in a negative way by that, I would be happy to ask the organisations and the Departments perhaps to have discussions around it.

On Monday last I visited one of the community employment schemes which assists persons. There are 1,000 ring-fenced community employment places in the Department of Social Protection with which we support, throughout the country but particularly in the larger cities and towns, those who have substance abuse difficulties and who are rehabilitating. Some of those places are entirely drug free. Others have a different policy, for instance, to allow for methadone maintenance along with treatment. It is a very important issue and I thank the Deputy for raising it.

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