Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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As the Minister of State, Deputy English, will be aware, unfortunately, another homeless person died in Cork in recent days. This is the second such death in the city. Another lady was found deceased in a tent in September. In the lead-up to Christmas, much of the focus has been on the number of people who are homeless in the Dublin region and I wanted to try to get some sense of what the winter plan for the Cork area will be.

Some of the agencies in Cork are working flat out. Simon is making available an additional 47 spaces, not in bed spaces but by opening up their day care centres for the night-time where people can sleep on floors. Even at that, it is not meeting the demand in the city at present.

Last night I spoke to a number of volunteers who go out every night. We have a number of groups in Cork which do homeless soup runs and they bed down people, and they say that to meet the demand over the coming weeks to ensure that nobody is on the streets of Cork, we need an additional 20 bed spaces opened as a matter of priority.

I do not know what the plan is for the region in the coming weeks and maybe the Minister of State can outline that tonight to us, but there is a lot of anger in Cork today following the death of Kathleen. The reality is she tried to get into a hostel and she was unable to get into one. She was told to come back later when they could see what space was available. The doorway she passed away in is the very same doorway her aunt passed away in seven years ago. This is not a new issue in the city. That family has now been touched by tragedy on two occasions and they have to pick up the pieces again.

Volunteers in Cork want to express the need for additional bed spaces. There is a perception, and a genuine feeling on the ground among the volunteer groups which are working in the area, that much of the focus has been on the Dublin area.

That is understandable in light of the number of people who are homeless in Dublin. However, Cork also has a homelessness problem and is trying to deal with it. I am not criticising anybody in the area. All of those involved are doing their best, including the local authority, the statutory agencies and the volunteer groups, but there are just not enough emergency beds available.

I understand why some people might be turned away from emergency accommodation. They might be too intoxicated or they might be aggressive when they arrive. However, turning them away and making them sleep in doorways is not the answer. Perhaps the Minister will outline what plan there is for the next couple of weeks to ensure that nobody in Cork is obliged to sleep in a doorway.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy O'Brien for raising this issue. He did so in a genuine manner. He is right that it is important to recognise that the homelessness and rough sleepers difficulty exists not only in Dublin, where the main media concentration is, but also outside. We are aware of that in the Department because we are involved in providing the services on a nightly basis. I accept that the Deputy is genuinely trying to bring a focus to this.

My Department and I learned of the sad death yesterday of a woman in Cork city who was availing of homelessness services. This death is a tragedy for the woman's family and friends and I extend our sympathies to them. Clearly, this is a very difficult time for those involved. Out of consideration for the families, I ask that we respect their privacy and not speculate on the circumstances of the deceased or the cause of death at this time. However, I will check out the Deputy's comment that she had sought to get into a hostel but was not facilitated. I will try to find out the reasons for that and, if possible, deal with it.

Of course, while it is not appropriate to speculate on the circumstances of an individual case, it is absolutely right that we should discuss the issue of homelessness and, more specifically, highlight the actions that are under way to support those who are sleeping rough at this time. If there are gaps in the service we should close them. That is something the Deputy tried to highlight tonight. There is a suite of State-funded support services available to homeless persons nationally, including in Cork city. Cork City Council makes every possible effort on an ongoing basis to ensure there is sufficient emergency accommodation available to those who need it. We have been clear to all local authorities that there must be enough beds, both temporary and emergency, to provide for people in these winter conditions. It is something the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, was clear about a number of months ago.

Cork City Council's cold weather strategy for homeless persons has been in effect since 1 November. This strategy ensures that additional temporary shelter can be brought into use across existing services to ensure that there is sufficient available accommodation this winter. At present, there are over 130 hostel type beds available for homeless adults in Cork city. This includes the additional capacity that is currently available under the city council's cold weather strategy. I understand that, typically, Cork city has less than ten rough sleepers on a given night. Beds are available for these individuals should they wish avail of them and outreach teams continue to work to try and provide solutions for such individuals and to encourage them to avail of accommodation. The Deputy has provided data tonight indicating that the figure is approximately 20. We will have to check our figure and update it because we are clear that we wish to ensure there is enough accommodation for anybody who needs it. As the Deputy said, there is no reason anybody should have to be a rough sleeper and remain on the streets at night, certainly in these weather conditions. That is our aim and that is what we provide resources for through the various mechanisms.

In addition to the hostel type beds, the city council is also funding the Simon Community to provide a night haven service from its facility on Anderson's Quay. This service, which is available throughout the winter period, provides supervised space in which up to 15 people who would not normally access services can spend the night if they choose. At the housing summit held last September, the Minister and I emphasised the need for all housing authorities to have sufficient capacity in emergency accommodation and appropriate facilities in place for every person sleeping rough on any night of the week. This is something we did last year as well. Generally, the assessment involves discussions with the various agencies on the ground over the months leading up to winter and Christmas. I hope we have provided enough accommodation but, if not, we will have to add to it.

In response to the housing summit, the key urban housing authorities where rough sleeping arises have put their cold weather strategies in place and some of them, including in Dublin, are rolling out additional beds. Government policy on homelessness recognises that the provision of long-term secure housing, with support as needed to ensure sustainable tenancies, is the key solution to ending homelessness. While all homeless people have a need for stable housing, homelessness is complex and a variety of other supports can be required to meet individual needs. Many homeless people, particularly those who are rough sleeping, have complex health and social care needs, including in respect of addiction and mental health issues, which require care and supports beyond the provision of accommodation via the housing authority.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State must conclude.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I wish to make a final point. I agree with the Deputy that we must ensure the different types of accommodation cater for the need. I was at the Dublin Simon Community facility a few days ago where its personnel meet people who present with different needs and can cater for them.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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I do not wish to be argumentative with the Minister of State about the figures but the figure he quoted is simply not correct. There are more than ten rough sleepers in Cork at night. That is a fact. I am aware that the Simon Community has opened a facility and I have said that it is working at capacity. The city council is doing everything possible. I am not criticising anybody but it is simply not true to say that there is an emergency bed available for every rough sleeper in Cork city. If that was the case, we would not have people sleeping on the streets.

I am aware, from personal experience, that some individuals who may be able to avail of a bed choose not to do so for personal reasons. If somebody has come out of addiction and is clean that person will be very slow go into an environment where there is drug use. I agree that it is necessary not just to make beds available but to examine the types of beds being made available. We cannot continue to state that there is a bed for everyone who wishes to avail of one because it simply is not true. The Minister of State can visit Cork on any night. We are discussing people who are rough sleepers tonight, but I know people who are homeless and are squatting. They are in a building at night and have some type of roof over their heads, but they are still homeless. If they are kicked out of the squat for some reason - and the majority of the squats are run down, dilapidated buildings - they will end up on the streets that night.

I ask the Minister of State to meet the agencies in Cork because the figures he is being given are not correct.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I wish to make it clear to the Deputy that there should be a bed available for everybody. The Minister could not be any clearer about this. He has repeatedly said in the House that when it comes to the emergency provision of housing, and we know that it is not a permanent solution, he has asked the local authorities to ensure there is a bed available for anybody who wants it. The Deputy is correct that in some cases people cannot avail of it for whatever reason.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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That lady wanted one.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I accept the Deputy's good faith and am not denying it. I am just saying that the information we received does not match that of the Deputy.. I am willing to have that checked out because we are clear that we wish to be able to say with confidence where we know we have a bed available for everybody. I monitor the Dublin situation closely. We are able to track the beds that are available every night, so I am clear about that. I do not have all the figures for Cork for every night of the week but I have been told that the average is ten. I will have that checked. The Minister could not have been clearer about this. I sat beside him when he told the local authorities that, under the winter initiative, it is essential that there are beds available. We know that in extreme weather conditions, such as those that will occur tonight and tomorrow night, people who do not usually avail of services will come forward and use them. That is also a chance to help them and perhaps save them by making other services available to them in the long term. We want to be in a position to have beds available. If they are not, I assure the Deputy that we will address the matter.