Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason funding for the development of homeless services has not been provided in 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9362/08]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will insist that funding is provided to develop new services for homeless people in 2008 in accordance with Government policy and the fact that people are forced to sleep in the streets due to a shortage of beds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9289/08]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason funding for the development of homeless services has not been provided in 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9776/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 95, 147 and 165 together.

The provision of accommodation to homeless adults is the responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the individual local authorities. The provision of health services to homeless adults is the responsibility of the HSE.From the publication in 2000 of Homelessness — An Integrated Strategy up to 2007, total funding channelled through local authorities for the provision of accommodation and related services to homeless adults has amounted to some €366m. In the same period expenditure channelled through the HSE for services to homeless adults has amounted to some €171m.

In 2008 the HSE is due to spend €33m on the provision of adult homeless services including grants to the non-governmental/voluntary sector. The Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government and local authorities will make available over €53m towards the provision of accommodation for homeless adults.

A new Integrated Homelessness Strategy is being finalised by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, with input from my Department and the HSE. Its core objective is the elimination of the long term occupancy of emergency homeless accommodation and the need to sleep rough in Ireland by the end of 2010. This builds upon the commitment made in Towards 2016 regarding emergency accommodation. The intention is to minimise the risk of homelessness occurring through effective preventative policies and services and where homelessness occurs to ensure it is of a short duration and that appropriate housing and other supports are facilitated.