asked the Minister for Health what co-operation exists between his Department and the Department of Local Government with regard to the health, care and accommodation of homeless families; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Homeless Families.
7.
There is close co-operation between my Department and the Department of Local Government on this, as on other matters of joint concern. There is also full co-operation between the health boards and the local authorities.
I take it that what the Deputy is primarily referring to is the problem of families with dependent children who suddenly find themselves without shelter. That is an emergency problem and it should be solved under local arrangements. The gardaí or members of voluntary welfare agencies who would be likely to become aware of the family's predicament would be able to advise them where they might find shelter. Such families would generally be entitled to services under the Health Acts—in most cases they would qualify for full eligibility. They would already in most cases have established their position as to eligibility and the health board concerned would help them to obtain any services in relation to health care which they needed if they should experience difficulty in obtaining these services.
If the Deputy is thinking in terms of a wider interpretation of "homeless" as including families living in sub-standard conditions then, of course, this enters more into the area of responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Local Government, and the housing authorities.
Has any recommendation been made by the Department of Health to the Department of Local Government that they should take over this responsibility because this division of responsibility has resulted in many of these families not being adequately listed for proper accommodation? It might be of advantage to these people, and also to the Department, if the Department of Health were to pass over the responsibility completely to the Department of Local Government. I would ask the Minister to make that recommendation to the Minister for Health.