Written answers

Thursday, 9 September 2021

Department of Health

Homeless Persons Supports

Photo of Peadar TóibínPeadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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988. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the attempts by the HSE to shut down certain homeless soup runs in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41491/21]

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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1137. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE plans to shut down existing soup runs in Dublin (details supplied); and if a plan is in place to feed homeless persons if these soup runs are forced to cease operating. [41844/21]

Photo of Ruairi Ó MurchúRuairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1268. To ask the Minister for Health the supports that have been put in place to ensure volunteer-run soup kitchens such as groups (details supplied) can continue to provide essential services; the timeframe provided to this organisation to make any necessary changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42282/21]

Photo of Frank FeighanFrank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 988, 1137 and 1268 together.

All food businesses must comply with the requirements of food law that are relevant to the business they operate.  Regulation (EC) No. 178 of 2002 provides the general framework for the operation of food safety law, and defines a food business as “any undertaking, whether for profit or not and whether public or private, carrying out any of the activities related to any stage of production, processing and distribution of food.”  Therefore, operators distributing food to people who are homeless such as those referred to by the Deputies, are food businesses for the purposes of food safety law.  

Food business operators are required by law to notify the HSE (or other FSAI Official Agencies as appropriate) of their intention to carry on a food business.  The frequency of inspection of food businesses is based on the risk to public health, with risk being assessed on a number of criteria including the types of foods being produced, processed, and distributed, and the vulnerability of the consumers.

The primary responsibility of the HSE Environmental Health Service (EHS) is the protection of public health.  It works under a service contract for the Food Safety Authority of Ireland to ensure the relevant food legislation is applied as necessary. This work is essential to ensure that food made available for people to eat is safe. Persons accessing homeless services are among the most vulnerable in our community and may be immunocompromised.  There is, therefore, risk of serious illness as a result of any potential food borne infection.

The EHS supervises over 45,000 food businesses and endeavours to work with food business operators to encourage an understanding of the legal requirements and to support compliance with the minimum food safety standards regarding structure, operation, safety management systems and staff training and to ensure compliance with food law where non-compliances are found upon inspection.

I am advised by the HSE that the EHS has neither served, nor threatened to serve, a closure order on any voluntary street-based service distributing food to the homeless.

The coordination of services to people who are homeless, including the provision of accommodation and food, falls within the remit of the Department of Housing, the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive and the local authorities.

I recognise the value of voluntary organisations in providing food and other services to people who are homeless. I would encourage these organisations to engage with the relevant homeless authorities to ensure services are provided in accordance with food safety and other regulations.

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