Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 13 May 1986

Vol. 366 No. 4

Written Answers. - Closure of HOPE Hostel.

101.

Mr. Cluskey

asked the Minister for Health if HOPE officials presented the Eastern Health Board, at a meeting on 2 April, 1986, a revised proposal for the funding of HOPE that would involve the following: (i) the takeover of the HOPE hostel service by Barnardos Child Care Agency within 12 to 16 months and that HOPE had already engaged in preliminary discussions with Barnardos in relation to this; (ii) a further re-organisation of HOPE staffing and funding requirements in the interim and (iii) the funding of HOPE for 1986 by £72,000 to £77,000 by the Eastern Health Board, as an interim arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

102.

Mr. Cluskey

asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that at three minutes to noon on 4 April, three minutes before the deadline to close HOPE, a phone call from a health board official informed HOPE that the board could not fund the proposal submitted on 2 April; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

103.

Mr. Cluskey

asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that the average occupancy of HOPE hostel for 1985 was eight persons per night; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

104.

Mr. Cluskey

asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that HOPE did not receive £30,000 from Comhairle Le Leas Oige (Dublin Youth Service Council) towards the running costs of HOPE hostel in 1985 and that the only moneys received from Comhairle in 1985 was the sum of £8,200 owed as a backpayment to previous employees of HOPE who had worked on the HOPE Finglas Project, 1980-83; if previous information given to the Dail by him in relation to this was inaccurate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

106.

Mr. Cluskey

asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that HOPE has always provided annual audited accounts: and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Mr. B. Desmond)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 to 104, inclusive and 106 together. Further to my reply to a question on 15 April, 1986 and my replies to supplementary questions arising therefrom (Official Report Vol. 365 Cols. 636-640), there is one issue which I would like to clarify. During the supplementary discussion on my previous reply I may have given the impression that the HOPE Organisation received a grant of £30,000 from the Dublin Youth Services Council in respect of the year 1985 in addition to the £68,000 received in grants in 1985 from the Eastern Health Board. The sum of £30,000 mentioned was, in fact, the total amount received in revenue grants by HOPE from agencies such as the Dublin Youth Services Council and the Department of Social Welfare over the period 1978 to 1985.

The Deputy will appreciate that my Department would not be privy to information of the detailed nature sought by him in respect of various discussions and correspondence over recent months between the council of the Hope Hostel and officials of the Eastern Health Board. In the circumstances therefore, I can only suggest that the Deputy might wish to approach the Eastern Health Board direct in these matters.