Vol. 463 No. 1
4 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health the number of emergency beds there are to accommodate homeless children in the Dublin area; the location of these beds; the way in which they are accessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5863/96]
There are 50 emergency beds available to accommodate homeless children in the Dublin area, all of which are specifically designated to care for children who are out of home. Details on the location of this accommodation are as follows:
Emergency beds available to accommodate homeless children in the Dublin area.
|
Residential Centres |
Management |
Number of Beds |
|
Parkview Hostel, North Circular Road |
Eastern Health Board |
14 |
|
Sherrard House, Sherrard Street |
Homeless Girls Society |
14 |
|
Crosscare Residential Project, Eccles Street |
Crosscare |
14 |
|
Off the Streets Project, Stanhope Street |
Focus Point |
8 |
|
Total |
50 |
Each of the centres can be accessed by the board's social workers and community child care workers. In the case of Parkview House, Sherrard House and Crosscare, two of the 14 beds in each centre are set aside for the exclusive use of the board's out-of-hours social work service. In addition to residential places, the board also has 23 emergency carer families which care for adolescents in crisis.
Section 5 of the Child Care Act, 1991, requires health boards to take such steps as are reasonable to make available suitable accommodation for homeless children up to 18 years. Health boards are developing a range of options to enable them to discharge their responsibilities under this section. These include: emergency hostels and other forms of residential accommodation; day care programmes for adolescents who are currently homeless or at risk of being homeless; out-of-hours social work services targeted at homeless children; and special foster care services for out-of-home adolescents.
As the Deputy will be aware, the problem of youth homelessness is mainly concentrated in the Eastern Health Board area. One of the board's most recent initiatives in response to this problem has been the establishment of an emergency short-term care facility which can cater for up to 14 young people who are temporarily out of home or are awaiting a more long-term placement.
Additionally, the 1995 child care action plan provided for a further range of important new child care developments including the provision of additional hostel and other residential places and an expansion of the board's out-of-hours social work service into a 24 hour crisis intervention service for all children.
I should also mention that the Health Estimate for 1996 includes provision for a further investment of £5 million in the child care services. This brings to £35 million on an annualised basis the total additional funding that has been provided for these services since 1993.
I am satisfied that these measures greatly strengthen the capacity of the health boards to provide appropriate accommodation and services for these vulnerable children.
The Minister of State, whom I thank for his comprehensive reply, said there are 50 emergency beds available for homeless children in the Dublin area and that the resources had been strengthened. However, he did not say whether the resources are adequate. Is he aware that during the week the Goldenbridge affair was highlighted in a television programme Focus Point, street workers encountered 15 children between the ages of 12 and 17 who had nowhere to sleep? Although it is not his fault, will the Minister of State accept responsibility for this problem? Is he aware that homeless children are exposed not only to the elements but also to people who prey on their bodies in terms of prostitution?
I am not so aware but if this is the case then I very much regret it. I agree that children in this position are very vulnerable and this is the reason we strengthened the resources. In the ordinary course of events, what we have done seems to be sufficient. We do not encourage the placement of children in bed and breakfast accommodation as it is not an acceptable response to the problem of homelessness. However, in cases of emergency — and the 15 children to whom the Deputy referred are in this category — the Department has advised health boards to take immediate steps to secure appropriate hostel, residential or family placement for children. Such accommodation could have been provided for the children to whom the Deputy referred.
What is the timescale for the plans to strengthen the service, improve it and put more money into it? What preventive work — this should be undertaken together with the provision of emergency places — is being carried out to ensure that children do not become homeless? Will the Minister accept the importance of this work? Will he agree it is unacceptable in a modern and civilised society that children should have to sleep on pavements? Will he meet urgently with Focus Point to discuss its requirement for additional resources?
It is unacceptable in a modern and civilised society that children should have to sleep on pavements. I am prepared to meet with any person or organisation with proposals which would eliminate this problem.
On the timescale for the plans, the Health Estimate for 1996 includes provision for a further investment of £5 million in the childcare area. Much money has been invested in this area since 1993 and the emphasis on it will continue. We want to do everything possible to ensure that the number of children in this category is reduced. The implementation by me of the provisions of the Child Care Act has gone a long way towards eliminating some of these problems.
We will deal with Priority Question No. 5 in ordinary time.
