Vol. 388 No. 4
asked the Minister for Health the facility for homeless persons which has been provided to replace the discontinued casual unit at the Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles, County Tipperary; if he has checked with other health boards whether they are operating locked casual units for homeless persons, as he indicated he would do in the Adjournment Debate in Dáil Éireann of 26 January 1989; the results of any such inquiries; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
72.
asked the Minister for Health, arising out of his commitment given in the course of an Adjournment Debate in Dáil Éireann on 26 January 1989, if he will investigate whether there are other similar locked wards in other health board areas; if he will pursue with the relevant health board the provision of a new service in Thurles, County Tipperary for the homeless; and if he will clarify current practices in dealing with cases such as that discussed in the aforementioned debate.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 72 together. I would like to emphasise first of all that the casual units referred to are not hospital wards at all but merely facilities which provide basic overnight accommodation for homeless people.
Further inquiries have been made with the Mid-Western Health Board about this matter and the position is that the board's discussions with local groups in Thurles have indicated that there is very little demand for a casual unit in the area. Hence the board have no immediate plans to replace the facility. I have also, as promised, checked the position with the other health boards and where these units are provided they appear to be operating quite well.
Four health boards have no casual units of any kind. In the other four health boards there are eight units for casuals now in operation, three of which are locked at night. These are regularly supervised by hospital staff.
I am concerned at the continued existence of locked casual units. The relevant health boards are, therefore, being requested to review immediately this aspect of the operation of casual units for the homeless.
The Housing Act, 1988, puts the onus on local authorities to provide accommodation for the homeless and I am also requesting that the health boards concerned enter into discussions with the relevant local authorities with a view to a gradual phasing out of these casual units attached to hospitals and their replacement by facilities funded by local authorities.
