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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Apr 1993

Vol. 429 No. 1

Written Answers. - Homeless Persons.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

47 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for the Environment the proposals, if any, the Government has to provide a long term solution to the problem of homelessness, especially in view of the deaths of a number of homeless people sleeping rough in the Dublin area this winter; if he intends to take any steps to ensure the provision of additional hostel accommodation; if he will provide further assistance for voluntary groups dealing with the homeless; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The Programme for a Partnership Government sets out measures to tackle effectively the problem of homelessness. In so far as these measures are the concern of my Department, they are being pursued in consultation with local authorities. In this connection, I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 121, 122 and 123 of 16 February, 1993.

The funding for assistance to voluntary bodies providing accommodation, including accommodation for homeless persons, under the Capital Assistance Scheme has been increased from £11 million in 1992 to £12.5 million in 1993. In addition, there has been an increase in 1993, compared with the corresponding 1992 expenditure, in the provision for recoupments to housing authorities of expenditure incurred by them under section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988 in contributing to voluntary bodies who accommodate homeless persons. The expansion of the local authority house building programme to 3,500 "starts" this year and the Government's commitment to appropriate long term house building programme will benefit the homeless as well as other categories of housing need.
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