I am aware of the industrial action referred to by the Deputy which has resulted in the withdrawal of social work support from homeless young people in the 16-18 year age group who are not previously known to the board. However, I should point out that the two emergency hostels for the young homeless in Dublin are unaffected and homeless young people continue to have access to them. I understand that the Eastern Health Board is seeking a further meeting with the trade union concerned with a view to resolving the dispute. I sincerely hope that there will be an early resolution of the dispute and that normal services will be resumed as quickly as possible.
A significant proportion of the special allocations of £1 million and £2 million set aside in the budgets of 1991 and 1992, respectively, for the development of child care services has been used to develop new services and facilities for homeless children around the country.
Over 40 extra hostel and other residential places for homeless youngsters have been developed in the Dublin area where the problem of youth homelessness is mainly concentrated. An additional 30 places have been developed outside the Dublin area.