I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together.
The levels of subvention given by health boards to organisations that care for homeless people would appear to me to be, in general, reasonable bearing in mind the many other demands on their resources. In many instances health board grants go towards topping up funding from other sources. It would be impossible to claim that all the needs of homeless people can be met through health board grant aid to voluntary and religious organisations. The problems of homelessness are many-faceted and can only be tackled through joint commitment, co-operation and resource input by the various statutory, voluntary and religious organisations involved.
I am not aware of any instance of a health board failing to accept responsibility for providing shelter and maintenance for eligible people. Health boards are obliged under section 54 of the Health Act, 1953, to give institutional assistance to eligible people to the extent that appears to them to be necessary or proper in each particular case. The arrangements for meeting this obligation vary from health board to health board in so far as the type of accommodation in which shelter and maintenance is provided is concerned.
If the Deputy has any particular instance in mind where he feels that a health board might have made better provision I would be glad if he would let me have some information about it.