Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday I visited the Capuchin Day Centre to meet those at the coalface of providing services for homeless adults and children. Brother Kevin's organisation is an iconic illustration of the generosity of people and the wider community. To witness volunteers from all strata of society is heartening; what is not so heartening is the lack of a proper meaningful response from Government. The reality from the front line is there is a terrible disconnect between official pronouncements on housing and homelessness and the experiences of those who are without homes. When I visited the centre in April, I raised some issues with the Taoiseach's predecessor. I pointed out that in 2013 there were 4,747 children attending for lunch and by 2016 the number was 8,353. That is a 76% increase and a shocking indictment on society and Government. I was there with Deputy Barry Cowen yesterday and, depressingly, the figures are getting worse rather than better. The figures for children attending for meals at the centre between January and September 2017 are worse than the figures for the entirety of 2016. In 2017, 4,500 people attended the medical clinic in the centre. Prescription charges are paid for by the organisation. There are 700 people for dinner every day and another 300 for breakfast. Every week, 1,900 food parcels are given out; 3,000 people are expected in Christmas week; and 250 baby parcels are given out weekly, which is a new service. The centre raised €3.5 million from people; the Government gives it €450,000.

More crucially, when I raised it in the Dáil last April, I raised some very specific issues. The first was the appointment of a social worker to the centre. The second issue was the appointment of a child welfare officer to act as first responder particularly in the case of child protection issues. In terms of child protection issues, the workers at the centre are very worried about the vulnerability of children who attend. They were promised a HSE link officer or child welfare officer. The centre has not had a social worker since 2012. The prescription charge should be waived for medical services at the centre. The Minister, Deputy Zappone, visited last year and the Minister, Deputy Harris, visited last November. Commitments were given on all those fronts and none was delivered. Nothing has happened, which I find extraordinary and unacceptable. Will the Taoiseach intervene and ensure the appointment of a dedicated social worker to the centre? Will he intervene and ensure the appointment of a child welfare officer to protect vulnerable people? Will he acknowledge that the housing plan is not working? There is no difference on the ground despite all the statements we are getting. The reality on the ground is becoming depressingly worse from talking to those at the coalface.

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