Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Feb 1994

Vol. 439 No. 4

Written Answers. - Homeless Children.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

102 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Eastern Health Board continues to place homeless children in bed and breakfast accommodation, hospitals, Garda Stations; and if this is an acceptable solution to the problem of youth homelessness; and if appropriate hostel, residential, or family placements should be found.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

I am aware that a small number of homeless children, particularly in the older age groups, have been placed by the Eastern Health Board in bed and breakfast and other inappropriate accommodation. I accept that this is not a satisfactory situation and that all reasonable efforts must be made to provide appropriate hostel, residential or family placement for homeless children.

Last year I approved a package of new childcare developments for each health board area which included the provision of additional residential places for the young homeless. In the Eastern Health Board area, where the incidence of youth homelessness is highest, I approved additional funding towards the provision of 30 extra hostel places in Dublin as follows:

—Eight places at Focus Point "Off the Streets" project which provides accommodation for difficult to place youngsters;

—Increase in the number of places at Eccles Street hostel from 12 to 14;

—Six places at Belvedere boys' hostel, Botanic Road, Glasnevin;

—Five places for adolescent girls at Salvation Army, Eden Quay;

—Four places for adolescent boys at Streetline Hostel, North Circular Road;

—Five places for teenage girls provided by Sisters of Charity at Deansgrange.

A provision of £15 million has been made available to implement the Child Care Act during the current year. This will meet the full year costs of the various initiatives launched last year and will also finance a further round of major new service developments that will amount to £10 million in a full year. While the precise details of new service developments have still to be finalised with the Eastern Health Board it is my intention that further progress will be made this year in providing additional facilities and services to address the specific needs of this particularly vulnerable group of children.