Vol. 498 No. 2
211 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the current extent of homelessness on a county by county basis compared to five and ten years ago; and if he will make a statement on the trends revealed. [27035/98]
212 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the information, if any, he has as to the reasons people become homeless; and the Government plans, if any, there are to address and eliminate the scourge of homelessness apart form providing extra hostel accommodation. [27036/98]
213 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to convene an interdepartmental group to tackle the problem of homelessness in view of the need to address the causes including the need to co-ordinate the Departments and agencies which would be instrumental in providing housing and other social services for those who have become homeless; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27037/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 211, 212 and 213 together.
I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 265, 266, 267, 268 and 269 of 1 December 1998 in relation to the measures available to address homelessness and in relation to the assessment of homelessness to be carried out in March 1999. Assessments of homelessness carried out in March 1991, March 1993 and March 1996 indicated that the numbers of homeless persons at those dates were 2,751, 2,667 and 2,501 respectively. Details of the assessments, on a local authority basis, are contained in the Department's Housing Statistics Bulletins for the years 1991, 1993 and 1996, copies of which are in the Oireachtas Library.
The causes of homelessness are complex and require co-ordinated responses. Homelessness may be due to factors such as family breakdown, unemployment, alcohol or drug addiction or a combination of factors.
A cross-Department team on homelessness has been established, chaired by my Department, with representation from other relevant Departments. The team is developing measures, in consultation with the appropriate statutory agencies and expert groups, for an integrated response to the issues which affect homeless people. The measures will include emergency, transitional and long-term responses and responses to secondary issues such as health, education, employment, etc.
