Katherine Zappone (Independent)

Reports in the media this week indicate that women only shelters for those who are homeless in Dublin have been redesignated as mixed gender. This is a cause of great concern to groups such as Sonas Housing which is working with vulnerable women who are now being accommodated in a chaotic, mixed gender dormitory situation. I have a question for the Leader arising from that which also relates to some preliminary results of a study from Trinity College Dublin on women and homelessness. The study indicates that 96% of homeless women have experienced violence of one form or another, with many experiencing incidents of violence while homeless, and 46% of those surveyed reported sexual abuse during childhood. In the majority of these cases the women surveyed also indicated that the perpetrator of this abuse was a male family member. The results of the survey confirm the need for female only accommodation services for very vulnerable women who may also be experiencing mental health or addiction issues.

Dormitories are not ideal emergency accommodation. Why is this happening now? It did not happen in the past. In 2009, in response to various evaluations on the issue of homelessness and service provision, the homeless agency partnership adopted Pathway to Home, a new configuration of homeless services in Dublin. That reconfiguration involves moving resources away from providing temporary accommodation to longer term support for housing solutions. This strategy, naturally, was broadly welcomed by the sector. Concerns with respect to the implementation of the strategy have arisen, however. The move to mixed-gender dorms appears to be part of the transition in implementing the new policy. My office has conducted some research with the relevant advocacy organisations. These groups have indicated that this situation can be described as the bad implementation of good policy. The reform of public services is top of the Government's agenda. The Minister, Deputy Howlin, has consistently said we have to deliver the same quality of service with less money. I repeat that we must ensure no one is further harmed by the State's behaviour in implementing new policies in light of cuts, or current policies that have not yet felt the brunt of cost reductions. I ask the Leader to raise this issue with the new Minister of State with responsibility for housing, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan. The Minister of State needs to clarify the current accommodation situation for homeless women in Dublin and set out how the most vulnerable people will be protected while Government policy is being reconfigured.