Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 4

Adjournment Debate. - Homeless Adults.

Ms Fitzgerald

I thank the Minister of State for coming into the House to reply to this Adjournment matter. I call on the Government urgently to address the escalating problem of homelessness in Dublin. At a time of such great economic prosperity, it is unacceptable that the number of homeless people in Dublin and throughout the country has grown so dramatically.

Even though our prosperity is increasing at such an excellent rate, it is an embarrassment to the Government that we have not demonstrated an ability to accommodate those less fortunate. A survey carried out by the Simon Community in June 1998 showed a 37 per cent increase in the number of homeless people in Dublin compared to its last survey taken the previous December which showed there were 208 people sleeping rough in Dublin. That is a gross underestimation of the number who are homeless now.

There are additional pressures on accommodation. A large number of asylum seekers are seeking accommodation, which puts pressure on the emergency supply of accommodation and on private rented accommodation. Many people in Dublin are facing rent increases of up to 25 per cent and 30 per cent. Every week tenants are being evicted or being handed notices of eviction from private landlords. There is also a shortage of emergency bed and breakfast accommodation.

The people of Dublin are concerned about this problem. Through letters, telephone calls and conversations, they constantly ask why we are not helping these people. Is it not fundamentally right for people to be allowed shelter, one of the basic human needs? Does it not state in our Constitution that it is the State's duty to accommodate the weaker sections of the community?

We need to invest further resources to combat this problem. I accept that extra resources have been invested, but they are not sufficient. We need to intervene more dramatically to avoid the problems of homelessness that exist in other capital cities. We can avoid the worst excesses of this problem if we do the right thing at this stage. If this problem is left unchecked, as the economy grows a separation will occur. Those who are successful will continue to be successful and those who are homeless will remain so. This will create a class of neglected and marginalised people who will be unable to contribute to our society.

There are not enough hostels, beds or even room on the floor. The lucky ones who get a bed will have to wait months before moving out because there are not enough affordable flats. Couples who are homeless face a major problem. They have a choice of staying with their loved ones on the streets or being split up and sent to hostels.

It has been well proven that homelessness works in a cycle and homeless children, especially, who go unassisted quickly become caught up in an ongoing cycle of homelessness, which persists throughout their lives. This problem is escalating out of control. The Simon Community said that by the time they start their soup run at 9 p.m. all accommodation is full and those they serve must sleep rough.

Is the Minister of State satisfied we have accurate information about the numbers involved and a coherent plan to tackle the problem? What additional resources will be allocated to tackle the problem of homelessness? Is he satisfied that he has put in place the necessary resources to ensure that an assessment of homelessness will be carried out shortly? Are there any measures in place to help homeless people improve their lives? This involves access to education, opportunities and training once shelter has been provided. One of the key factors related to the problem of homeless is the escalating drug problem. There are particular problems in relation to those who are homeless and drug abusers.

I compliment the great work being done by groups such as the Merchant's Quay Project, the Simon Community, the Salvation Army and many others. I also draw the attention of the Minister of State to the issues related to the problem of homeless children, although this does not come directly under his brief. I look forward to hearing what the Minister of State has to say.

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

Local authorities have wide powers to provide an effective response to homelessness in addition to the traditional response of local authority housing. The local authority housing programme continues to be an important element in meeting the accommodation needs of homeless people. The programme has been maintained at a high level in recent years and the 1999 provision is for 4,500 house starts, up from 3,900 in 1998, with capital funding of £230 million, an increase of £36 million on the 1998 provision.

Homeless people get a considerable number of the tenancies allocated in local authority houses in the Dublin area. In 1997 Dublin Corporation and the three Dublin county councils allocated a total of 626 tenancies in their houses to homeless people.

The social housing schemes, particularly the voluntary capital housing assistance scheme, are widely used to fund the provision of accommodation for homeless people by voluntary bodies. The funding limits for the capital assistance scheme were increased twice in the past 15 months, most recently in November 1998, to make the scheme attractive to voluntary bodies. The 1999 capital funding provision for the scheme is £16.5 million.

The 1999 budget increased the funding for the provision by local authorities of hostel accommodation for homeless people from £2 million to £4 million in 1999. This funding is for the provision of suitable short-term and transitional accommodation for homeless people.

Dublin Corporation provides funding to voluntary bodies towards the running costs of providing hostel and other accommodation for homeless people. The corporation has increased its contribution, with effect from October 1998, to £2,400 per bed unit per year from £1,200 previously. The Department of the Environment and Local Government recoups 90 per cent of this expenditure to the corporation.

The Dublin Homeless Initiative was set up some years ago to improve and co-ordinate service provision for homeless people in the Eastern Health Board region. Funding is provided through the initiative and Dublin Corporation to voluntary bodies towards the cost of resettlement services provided by them to assist homeless people to move out of the cycle of homelessness into independent living.

The initiative is considering a report it commissioned on resettlement services with a view to making a policy submission to the statutory agencies. Resettlement services are increasingly seen as essential in responding to the needs of homeless people and reducing the pressure on emergency accommodation.

Local authorities will be carrying out the 1999 assessment of homelessness at the end of this month. A number of changes have been made, in consultation with the corporation and the Dublin Homeless Initiative, in the manner of carrying out this assessment to ensure it will be as comprehensive and accurate as possible and give a true picture of the extent of homelessness.

Homelessness is a complex social problem. In some cases it is due to factors such as family breakdown, alcohol or drug misuse, etc., and needs a co-ordinated response. To this end, the Government has established a cross-Department team, chaired and serviced by the Department of the Environment and Local Government, to develop an integrated response to homelessness covering such issues as emergency, transitional and long-term responses and issues affecting homeless people such as health, education and employment. A cross-section of statutory agencies and voluntary agencies operating in the area of homelessness have recently been invited to make submissions on how they see a more integrated response being developed.

I would like to refer to the radio interview given yesterday morning by a person in the York Street Hostel operated by the Salvation Army. It was indicated that they had no blankets to give to homeless people calling to the hostel. I asked my Department to inquire into this and it has emerged that the person interviewed did not know that blankets are available from Dublin Corporation, which make blankets available to voluntary bodies. The Salvation Army indicated to officials in my Department that the views expressed were those of the individual interviewed and do not represent the views of the Salvation Army. The interview has caused it some embarrassment. To suggest that its hostel could be filled two or three times over if it had the capacity is ill-informed on the extent of the availability of hostel accommodation for homeless people. The Salvation Army enjoys a good working relationship with Dublin Corporation and it is anxious to maintain that relationship as well as maintaining a good relationship with my Department. I am happy to acknowledge this as the work done by the Salvation Army for the homeless is much valued by me and my Department. I treat this with the highest priority in terms of my responsibility for housing in the Department.