Written answers

Thursday, 2 December 2010

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Homelessness Strategy

12:00 pm

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of homeless persons identified in the homeless counts of 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010; the action he will take to reduce the incidence of homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45696/10]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 138: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the targets he has set to reduce homelessness; if these targets have been met in 2007, 2008, 2009, and to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45697/10]

Photo of Michael FinneranMichael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose take Questions Nos. 137 and 138 together.

I refer to reply of Question No. 242 of 30 November 2010 which sets out the position on meeting the Government's targets for tackling homelessness. The Counted In survey, which is a special purpose count of people using homeless services carried out in Dublin every three years since 1999 through the Homeless Agency, supported by my Department, is generally considered to provide the most robust indicator. The results of the most recent survey, in March 2008, reported a total of 1,436 homeless households in Dublin, compared with 1,361 in 2005. While this was a numerical increase of around 5%, the position relative to overall population was unchanged. A further 708 households were recorded as residing in long-term or transitional accommodation; however, it would not be correct to regard all of these as homeless, particularly where, for example, households were resident in suitable accommodation that would be likely to provide their most appropriate home in the long-term, or where they had begun to make a transition out of homelessness.

The Counted In survey method was also used for the first time in Cork, Galway and Limerick in 2008. The results indicated a total of 767 households homeless in these centres. However, that figure includes households in long-term and transitional accommodation some of whom, as indicated in relation to Dublin, should not properly be regarded as homeless. The next Counted In survey is due to take place in 2011.

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