Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 65: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress to date of the cross-departmental team on homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4062/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The cross Department team on homelessness is, under the aegis of my Department, charged with monitoring and overseeing the implementation of the Government's integrated and preventative homelessness strategies. These strategies constitute a cross Department response designed to ensure that services are put in place to address the needs of homeless persons in a holistic fashion, to target groups most at risk of homelessness and to ensure early intervention before people at risk actually become homeless. The cross Department team reports periodically to the Cabinet committee on social inclusion.

The Government's commitment to addressing the issue of homelessness is evidenced by the high levels of funding which it continues to provide for the sector. The allocation from my Department to meet the current cost of the provision of accommodation and related services funding has increased from €12.6 million in 1999 to €51 million in 2004 and has enabled significant progress to be made in the provision of accommodation and related services. Monitoring of the implementation of the homelessness strategies has indicated that, across all agencies, significant progress has been made in addressing the issue of homelessness.

A number of measures have been undertaken to date to address the needs of such persons. Each local authority and health board has drawn up homeless action plans and these are currently being implemented. Homeless fora have been established in each county and division of responsibility has been clarified between local authority and health boards regarding accommodation and care costs. Outreach and settlement programmes have been established in a number of areas and in particular in main urban areas. There is improved accommodation facilities and arrangements countrywide — provision of over 1,000 emergency beds; provision of designated accommodation for street drinkers and drug users in Dublin, Limerick, Tralee and Dundalk; provision of a 48 bed foyer under the Department's capital assistance scheme to the voluntary sector in Dublin which caters for the needs of young people leaving care or who are otherwise at risk of homelessness; in the period 2001-2003 almost 2,000 homeless people have been housed in Dublin alone.

A specialised unit, the homeless offenders strategy team, has been established within the probation and welfare service to address the housing needs of homeless offenders. Other measures include the drafting and implementation of protocols by the health boards for the discharge of homeless persons from hospital and mental health facilities as well as improved medical and related facilities; direct provision of educational programmes for homeless persons, provision of information, staff training and referrals to other programmes. There is general agreement that the emergency sector is adequately catered for, at this stage, and the future focus will be on the provision of long-term accommodation and the supports required to meet the non-accommodation needs of homeless persons.

In addition, the team will oversee the review of the Government's homeless strategy, which is currently underway. Consultants have been appointed and it is expected that preliminary recommendations will be available by June of this year. The cross Department team is an integral part of the implementation process and will continue to provide the necessary support, advice and impetus in achieving sustained improvement in services for the homeless.