Vol. 436 No. 2
16 Mr. Cox asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the fact that social welfare allowances are being used by regional health boards to provide accommodation for homeless persons; the funding arrangements he has with local authorities to recoup this money; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Because of the nature of their work, community welfare officers are often involved in dealing with the general welfare needs of homeless people. There is a specialised homeless unit in the Eastern Health Board area staffed by community welfare officers and funded on a recoupment basis by the local authority in respect of its activities on behalf of the homeless.
A number of other health boards are currently in consultation with the relevant local authorities in regard to provision for homeless people, including the question of recoupment of expenditure in these cases.
An advisory group of representatives of the eight health boards and chaired by my Department has been established to review the guidelines for the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. The group is currently concluding its review of the rent and mortgage guidelines.
This matter has been raised with the health boards by my Department in this context and will be addressed in the context of new guidelines for health boards in relation to assistance with accommodation costs which will be concluded shortly.
