Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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2056. To ask the Minister for Health the spend on homeless services by his Department and agencies under his remit for each year since 2013; and the estimated spend for 2021. [36414/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Health and Health Service Executive (HSE) are responsible for the delivery of a range of health-related services and supports to homeless persons. Under the Health Acts, in particular the 1953 Act, the HSE has statutory obligations towards homeless persons; today this is understood to mean responsibility for the delivery of health and social care supports to homeless persons either directly or through Section 39 funded services. Addressing the health needs of homeless persons and improving their access to healthcare is a key priority for the Department of Health and the HSE.

The Department of Health provides annual funding to the HSE for the health services and supports for homeless people. In addition to targeted supports, people who are homeless can also avail of health services as provided for the general population. This includes services targeted at low income households, such as medical cards and GP cards.

Expenditure on homeless health-related services by the Department of Health and associated agencies each year since 2013 is indicated below.