Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy. I am focused on doing whatever we can to ensure that the deaths in our homeless community are reduced as much as possible. It is obvious that we need to do that. That is why the first measure I took was establishment of the homelessness task force which I chair. Addiction services are important, as are mental health services and health teams.

We have seen through Covid is that the better response to more vulnerable in our community, particularly the homeless sector, with better health outcomes for many is due to the wraparound services being available with people not actually having to deal with the bureaucracy that they may have had to in the past. That requires a HSE, Tusla and local authority response in the relevant areas, as well as from my Department. I am confident that with the programme for Government and the measures we have taken already, we will make strides in that area.

Each individual case is an absolute tragedy. Some of the cases are incredibly complex. It is my job to do everything I can to reduce that as much as possible.

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