asked the Minister for Health if he will state the number of children of homeless families in Griffith Barracks, Dublin, removed to hospital within the last year, and the public cost of maintaining them while in hospital.
4.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Homeless Families in Dublin Barracks.
3.
Mr. Ryan
Mr. Ryan
asked the Minister for Health what arrangements are made by the Dublin Health Authority to care for the children of homeless families in Griffith Barracks while their mothers are in hospital; the name and location of any institutions in which the children have been housed during their mothers' absence; and the cost to date of such arrangements.
5.
Mr. Ryan
asked the Minister for Health if he will state the cooking facilities provided by the Dublin Health Authority for homeless families in Griffith Barracks and, in particular, the ratio of cookers to families; whether he is aware that mothers there are refused permission to cook on an operational gas cooker which is kept idle and that as a consequence some families do not receive a dinner until very late in the afternoon; and if having regard to the hardship and health hazards imposed on families by this behaviour he will make representations to the Dublin Health Authority in the matter.
6.
Mr. Ryan
asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that men visiting their homeless wives and families in Griffith Barracks, Dublin, are denied toilet facilities there; and if having regard to the inconvenience and health hazard caused by this policy he will make representations to the Dublin Health Authority and make a statement in the matter.
7.
Mr. Ryan
asked the Minister for Health if he will state the charges for accommodation which the Dublin Health Authority make to homeless families in Griffith Barracks, Dublin; the facilities given in return; and the total income from homeless families within the past year.
8.
Mr. Ryan
asked the Minister for Health if, having regard to the need to respect people's right to privacy concerning their personal, domestic and financial affairs, he will ensure that Dublin Health Authority officials interviewing members of homeless families in Griffith Barracks do so in private and treat confidentially any information obtained.
9.
Mr. Ryan
asked the Minister for Health if he will state the manner by which the quarters occupied by homeless families in Griffith Barracks are heated; and whether he is satisfied that the Dublin Health Authority provide an adequate amount of heating there for all families.
10.
Mr. Ryan
asked the Minister for Health why the Dublin Health Authority refuse to permit mothers of homeless families to keep their newly born babies with them in Griffith Barracks; what arrangements are made by the Authority to care for the babies while they are parted from their mothers; and if, having regard to the hardships suffered by both mothers and children by this policy, he will have it altered to permit mothers to retain their children.
11.
Mr. Ryan
asked the Minister for Health if he will state in respect of the homeless families in Griffith Barracks, Dublin the number of persons in each family, the length of time each family has been there, and the approximate time they will spend there if they are unable to obtain alternative accommodation pending an offer of housing by the Dublin Corporation.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 11 together.
The Minister for Health is not to be regarded as answerable to the House in regard to the detailed day-to-day administration by the Dublin Health Authority of this service, which, incidentally, is provided in the premises mentioned on a purely interim basis.
Moreover, the Deputy is a member of the Dublin Corporation which provides a large part of the finances of the authority in question. No doubt the Deputy can obtain the information he requires in the normal way either from the authority itself or through the Corporation representatives on that body.
Mr. Ryan
Does the Minister not consider that he has a serious duty when there are 33, or perhaps more at this stage—it varies up and down— homeless families in disused Army barracks in Dublin who are obliged to cook on one gas cooker, although there are two there, and where husbands are prevented from living with their wives and families, and are also prohibited from using the toilets in the institution? Surely the Minister could intervene in this matter or is it just another case where the Minister could not care less?
It is a matter for the Dublin Health Authority.
It is not.
Mr. Ryan
It is no such thing. It is the result only of gross neglect of social matters on the part of the Minister for Health and his colleagues in the Government.
Is it not a fact that the Minister has overall responsibility for the conditions that exist in this barracks and that he should exert his authority and insist that the conditions suggested in the question should be remedied?
The Minister has undoubtedly a supervisory authority but he is not responsible, and he will not accept responsibility, for matters relating to the day-to-day administration of any institution in this country.
The Minister has responsibility by being where he is.
Mr. Ryan
Are we to understand now that the Minister considers it is only a matter of day-to-day administration that there should be a large number of homeless families in Dublin without proper heating, proper cooking and proper toilet facilities, and that members of the same families are forced to live apart? Surely that is not a matter of day-to-day administration? It is a crying social scandal.
Is the Minister aware that in fact all these will be housed this week? Some have already been housed and the rest will be housed in the next fortnight. Two families of six were housed yesterday and six more families of six are getting offers this week.
That is bad news for Fine Gael.
Mr. Ryan
Unless the Minister gives the information I request with regard to the numbers of families and the numbers in those families, it is grossly irresponsible for him to say——
The Deputy never goes near the Corporation.
(Interruptions.)
Mr. Ryan
The real answer is that the people will not be housed in a fortnight's time.
All families of six persons. That covers 30 children. There are eight families of six.
Mr. Ryan
How many other smaller families are there?
I am calling Question No. 12.
Is it not thoroughly scandalous that the Minister should have sat on this for the best part of a year when simple remedial action could have been taken? To describe human beings as matters of day-to-day administration is utterly scandalous.
(Interruptions.)
Mr. Ryan
We can take it now that the Minister has refused to answer these eight questions because the suggestions in the questions are true?
No.
Mr. Ryan
And they are a crying condemnation of the Minister's utter incompetence in the past.
And it is the Government's failure that has put these families in Griffith barracks.