Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 12 Dec 1991

Vol. 414 No. 6

Adjournment Debate. - Youth Homelessness.

Mr. Deenihan

I thank you for allowing me to raise this very serious matter on the Adjournment this evening. A major crisis is developing as regards youth homelessness, especially in our larger urban centres. Many young people are left in a tragic cycle of persistent and intermittent homelessness because of the lack of suitable support structures. Their needs are obviously not being met through the existing child care services.

The lack of accommodation means that young people are exploited by the many desperate horrors of life on the streets. There is alcohol abuse, drug abuse and shop lifting. Crime, and even prostitution are a means of survival for these homeless youths. Their means of survival create further problems for the Garda and the District Courts. We have seen several examples of this in recent months.

The national survey carried out by the Streetwise National Coalition in 1987 revealed a serious problem in regard to youth homelessness in all the major cities. Cork, Limerick, Galway and Dublin in particular lack sufficient facilities for teenage boys and girls who are homeless. They found that 306 young people outside of Dublin were homeless while there were 406 young homeless people in Dublin. In the time available to me tonight, I wish to point out the last major survey of the homeless was carried out in 1925. I appeal to the Government and the Minister to carry out an in-depth analysis of the homeless at this stage.

Since 1987 some improvements have been made. These include the opening of a small hostel in Cork. However, no facilities are available for teenage girls in Cork; they are referred to Edel House, an adult hostel which caters for homeless women who have experienced violence. In Galway, hostel accommodation for teenage boys at risk and out of home is provided at Cyrene House but, again, girls are referred to an adult hostel, Waterside House. In Limerick, a hostel and night shelter for teenage girls at risk was established by the Good Shepherd nuns in 1989 in Clare Street. In 1989 alone, 63 young women were accommodated in that hostel, most of whom were under 18 years of age. However, there is no equivalent service for teenage boys who are referred by the health board to the adult men's hostel. This is an unsatisfactory arrangement. These incidents are repeated all over the country where teenage boys and girls are referred to adult hostels in Cork, Galway, Limerick and especially in Dublin where the problem is endemic and the position is deteriorating.

Focuspoint make this case very strongly in their report which was published yesterday. They revealed a 35 per cent increase in the use of their services for the year up to May last. The number of young teenagers appealing for accommodation has now reached 26 a month. Sister Stanislaus Kennedy said:

On average we are getting one new homeless person coming to us for help each day. We are able to help only around 60 per cent.

A shortage of services for young people and widespread unemployment are blamed for the escalating problem of youth homelessness.

In their annual report for June 1990 to May 1991 Focuspoint revealed that 317 teenagers under the age of 17 sought accommodation from them; two out of three were first time callers but only one third of the young people were placed in appropriate homes and hostels. A shortage of emergency beds meant that many more young teenagers had to go to inappropriate accommodation, such as adult hostels.

An Ceann Comhairle

The time available to the Deputy is well nigh exhausted. I would be greateful if he would bring his speech to a close.

Mr. Deenihan

During the past year the Minister made various promises and commitments; indeed, he made commitments here in a similar debate on 17 February. He promised, for example, an after hours service for homeless children, that he would set up different units around the country, and the necessary regulations to implement the Child Care Act, especially section 5, but this has not happened. He also promised that 65 emergency beds would be provided, but only seven have been made available. I would like the Minister to give me a positive response tonight.

Mr. Flood

I welcome this opportunity to spell out the substantial progress which we have made during the past ten months, particularly since the Taoiseach gave me specific responsibility for the provision of child care-child centred services. I would like tonight to outline the projects which are already up and running and those which are about to commence because this is a serious issue. As I said, I am glad to have this opportunity to respond.

In recent months my Department have been working closely with all the health boards and the voluntary agencies to provide additional hostel places and other forms of accommodation so that no young person should have to sleep rough on the streets of our cities and towns.

The important new developments which have already been approved and for which funding has been provided by the Government include a new therapeutic unit for difficult adolescents to be operated by the Eastern Health Board for which the staff have been recruited — it is expected that this centre will open late this year or early in the New Year; a new residential unit for boys and a new emergency hostel for homeless girls also in the Eastern Health Board area; a new hostel for homeless youth in the Midland Health Board area; a new residential service for adolescent boys in the Mid-Western Health Board area; a new unit for children and adolescents with behavioural problems and a new facility for homeless youngsters in the NorthWestern Health Board area; the building of a new residential unit for teenage boys in Cork and the development of a specialised foster care programme for difficult children in the Southern Health Board area; and a new hostel for homeless girls in the Western Health Board area.

It is clear from this outline that the problem of the young homeless has been targeted for priority attention. Youth homelessness is a nationwide problem. My Department are in discussions with all the health boards concerning proposals for appropriate developments to assist the young homeless in their areas and, as can be seen from the projects I have outlined, progress has already been made in a number of areas.

Deputy Deenihan specifically referred to Limerick. I wish to advise him that a new group home for eight boys at Drombanna which was delayed by local objections will open early in 1992. With regard to Galway, the Deputy mentioned the need for a facility for girls. Despite the fact that we have provided money, unfortunately, due to local objections, there are difficulties in obtaining a suitable premises. Most of the facilities we are providing require planning permission from the local authority and, as the democratic process allows for objections, unfortunately from time to time delays can occur.

In so far as Cork is concerned the new home at Shanakee Road for eight boys is almost complete. Funding and staff have been provided and it will open in early 1992. We are also making provision for the voluntary sector in Cork because as the Deputy is probably aware the voluntary sector is very much concerned. I have taken a personal interest in working with that sector throughout the country.

The provision of emergency places is, however, only one aspect of the services which need to be developed. A balance must be struck between the provision of emergency services and other important elements which cover both short and long term accommodation and, most importantly, the strengthening of community-based support services which play a vital role in preventing young people from becoming detached from home. Work is also being carried out in response to a variety of requests regarding the accommodation needs of young people. In addition to the provision of hostel accommodation the Eastern Health Board have initiated a carers for young people scheme which caters for adolescents who have had difficulty adapting to other settings, and the board are shortly to commence the recruitment and training of four families who will take young adolescents on an emergency short term basis because those young people find it impossible to remain in the family home.

The Eastern Health Board are also in the process of developing other short term accommodation such as "digs", sheltered flats and semi-independent living accommodation, in addition to special foster care and after-care programmes for travellers. Of particular relevance to this debate is the section of the Child Care Act requiring the health boards to investigate the circumstances of homeless children and, in appropriate cases, either to receive these children into care or to take steps to make accommodation available to them. As I stated publicly on a number of occasions, the Government are firmly committed to the phased implementation of the Child Care Act. New regulations and rules of court are being prepared to give full effect to many of its provisions. There will be consultations, as was promised during debate on the legislation, in the preparation of the new regulations with all those organisations on whose services and members the new regulations will have an impact. This will be done as part of a structured programme for the implementation of the legislation.

Indeed, as the Deputy may be aware, the first commencement order under the Act has been made. It brought into effect from 1 December new controls relating to solvent misuse by young people. It is now an offence for retailers or others to sell or make available any substance that he or she knows or suspects a young person will use for glue sniffing. The penalty for this offence will be a fine of up to £1,000 and/or up to 12 months imprisonment. Garda have also been given new powers to seize substances in the possession of young people in a public place which they believe are being abused by the young people. The new controls and the work which is being undertaken by the health promotion unit of my Department in educating young people, their parents and those who work with them will help protect our young people from the hazards associated with the abuse of solvents, which is one of the problems which can lead young people to become detached from home.

It is clear from what I have indicated here that the Government are committed to tackling the problem. An indication of that commitment was the provision in 1991 of £1 million, targeted at the area we are discussing. We hope to see further developments, in conjunction with the statutory agencies — mainly the health boards — and the voluntary sector, in the provision of resources and in meeting the needs as set out in the Child Care Bill.

Mr. Deenihan

Unfortunately, the problem still exists.