asked the Minister for Health the reason why fathers of families are separated from their families in Griffith Barracks, Dublin; the total number of families living in Griffith Barracks on 7th July, 1971; the total number of people in Griffith Barracks on that date; and if the Eastern Health Board will arrange that homeless families remain intact as family units while accommodated in Griffith Barracks.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Homeless Families.
9.
The accommodation available at Griffith Barracks is of the dormitory type and would not be suitable for the accommodation of entire family units. On the 7th July there were 18 mothers with 30 children living in Griffith Barracks. There was a total number of 51 persons living there on that date.
It has not been the policy of any health authority to provide family-type accommodation for able-bodied persons and their families who find themselves in need of shelter and maintenance. The provision of appropriate housing accommodation is, of course, the responsibility of the housing authorities.
Can the Minister say whether those refugees from the North of Ireland who are being accommodated at Kilworth and Gormanston camps are separated in this particular way?
That is a separate question.
I could not say.
Only the natives.
Is it not about time that this basic and fundamental provision of the Constitution that the family is the basic unit of our society should be honoured in respect of these unfortunate people who for the past ten years have been in one way or another living in scandalous conditions?
I have dealt with this at some length on a previous debate and I would invite the Deputy to read the remarks I made on that occasion. It is not the custom of the Dublin Housing Authority to require us to give accommodation on a family basis and the length of time which these people reside in Griffith Barracks has been shortening continuously.
Is it not a fact that this is a Local Government problem really and not a Health problem and that when houses are in short supply in the Dublin region the number of people in Griffith Barracks rockets upwards? It should not be a Health responsibility at all and, in fact, it only remains an embarrassment to the relevant health authority because it is not transferred to Local Government.
The responsibility is upon the Dublin Housing Authority.
The responsibility is with the Minister for Local Government.
Question No. 10 postponed.