Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for remaining to take the Adjournment of the House despite the late hour. I await his response to the issue of homelessness. The true extent and scale of homelessness in this country is grossly misunderstood. A total of 6.9% of households are living in constant poverty. Homelessness is evident on the streets in villages, towns and cities throughout the country. One only need walk across the road down Molesworth Street and Dawson Street to see homelessness at first hand. In 2005, 185 individuals were sleeping rough in the city so I expect that figure is much higher by now. We need to stand side by side with charities such as the Simon Community which are committed to eradicating homelessness. It is not good enough to aim only at reducing homelessness. The number of people who are homeless each night on our streets is growing and 46% of these are aged between 26 and 39 years of age.

It is predicted that we are set to face an enduring economic recession. With the price of oil at a record high of $138 per barrel and the cost of food and other consumer goods soaring, there is a frightening tenor to the Government's tune that previous targets to help homeless people will not now be met and homelessness will fall off the Government agenda. This is my grave concern.

The Homeless Agency partnership action plan on homelessness aims to have eradicated homelessness in Dublin by 2010. There has been inter-agency long-term professional planning around the provision of housing for the most vulnerable, but there is uncertainty now about Government funding. The recent revelations uncovered by "Prime Time" indicate that the Health Service Executive has substantially cut its funding to homeless services and this cannot be justified. Social inclusion is no longer a priority for the HSE. In this time of growing economic uncertainty, it is imperative that the funding is provided for these essential services.

The Simon Community is at its capacity and urgently needs more resources. I am speaking specifically about the Simon Community in the midlands. Since 2005, that charity has contended that a service for homeless people in the Athlone area and in Mullingar is an urgent priority. Planning has been undertaken and it was hoped that the service would be in operation from September onwards. I believe the service in Mullingar is ready to proceed. However, no operational budget has been published by the HSE. I am aware of an inter-agency strategy but Government budgets do not complement this strategy. None the less, I hope this will happen. There needs to be certainty and assurance for charities such as the Simon Community to help them follow through on their professional long-term planning. They have been working on planning with the HSE and the local authorities for many years.

I understand the national strategy on homelessness is to be launched in a few weeks. Along with other agencies I welcome this but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Will the provision of funding and resources and timetabling for delivery of services be announced at the launch? There must be guarantees from Government to support the agencies in their work. Will the Minister outline exactly when the new buildings in the Athlone area and in Mullingar will be suitably staffed? The HSE promised it would provide the staff for these facilities, but nothing has been done.

We cannot allow people to continue to live on our streets without shelter, food, warmth, education and all the basic necessities we take for granted. We are talking about people, not percentages and statistics. The Government and the HSE must continue to play a central role. The State has a duty to protect and vindicate the rights of all citizens and this extends to homeless people. They have equal rights. The Government is failing the homeless and denying them their rights.

The HSE in its research conducted in July 2005 recommended a dedicated service in the Athlone area. The midlands Simon Community aims to have this service operational in September 2008. Despite the high level of inter-agency working and planning undertaken at a local and regional level since 2005, an operational budget has yet to be confirmed by the HSE. The stark statistics show that the average mortality rate for homeless people is 42 years. This is a crime in this day and age.