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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 12 Dec 1991

Vol. 414 No. 6

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EC Funding for Accommodation.

Tomás MacGiolla

Question:

7 Tomás Mac Giolla asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline his views on the incorporation of projects for homeless people within the scope of future Structural Fund spending; the discussions, if any, which have been held with EC authorities on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Under the current regulations governing the provision of Structural Fund aid the provision of housing is not eligible for assistance. Indeed, there is no Community competence in relation to housing. It has, however, been possible to put forward pilot proposals in relation to the training needs of the homeless in the context of the HORIZON Community Initiative, which I understand, is expected to be agreed by the EC Commission shortly. The question of incorporating projects for the homeless within the scope of future Structural Fund spending may be considered when the regulations governing the post-1993 Structural Fund are being drawn up. There have been no discussions to date with EC authorities on this issue.

It may be a little soon, but perhaps the Minister is aware that in the Treaty conclusions of just the other day the annexe relating to the social dimension of the social charter indicated a willingness to deal with those referred to in Eurospeak as the "excluded", which obviously includes the homeless. Does the Minister perceive that annexe in any way assisting with the inclusion of the homeless under structural funding? After all, it is also accepted in the various preambles to the Treaty provisions that the application of structural funding needs to be reviewed and made more effective in dealing with social as well as infrastructural matters.

The Deputy is correct in that I have spent the past three weekends reading through the preambles and the Treaty. During the first Structural Fund period from 1989 to 1993 an effort was made under the European Social Fund — about which Deputy De Rossa and I have spoken across the floor before — and the HORIZON programme originated there as an additional item. That scheme makes particular efforts, but it is only for pilot schemes.

Under the scheme there are about 140 projects amounting to £55 million. This country will get its share, which will be small. That initiative did identify the homeless. The Deputy seems to be referring to the broader front, in asking whether an extension will be made under the Regional Fund. From reading the document just last weekend I did not take that interpretation, but perhaps it is too early to do so.

The interest, which I know of from my previous post, in the Euroform and HORIZON programmes shows that there is a Community initiative for this. The benefit is that the money goes directly to individual bodies rather than into the whole national regional structure. It is an issue worth consideration.

The difficulty with project work is that it is just that; there are specific projects but they do not necessarily examine the issues of homelessness in an integrated way. That would be the reason the National Campaign for the Homeless in Ireland are anxious that the issue be taken on board as part of dealing with the whole question of cohesion, the social dimension and so on. Would the Minister support the idea of homelessness being dealt with under general regional funding or specific structural funding?

The best time would be when the various documents are presented and discussions being in the new year on Structural Funds, it could be an initiative taken then. What might be useful would be that the experience gained from the HORIZON programme — showing that there is an interest in the matter — be included in those discussions at that stage. I would be prepared to recommend that that information be advanced.

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