Vol. 503 No. 5
12 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress, if any, achieved to date in providing five houses in Dublin for family support services in the fight against child homelessness in view of his post budget announcement; if homeless children are being accommodated in these houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10565/99]
The Eastern Health Board is in contact with the relevant housing authorities about this matter. I understand that Dublin Corporation is currently reviewing its housing stock to identify suitable premises. The Deputy will appreciate that the introduction of this service must be done with the co-operation of the local communities.
Is the Minister of State aware that 6,500 people are waiting for housing in the Dublin Corporation area? It is not right for him to expect local authorities to provide housing. This problem is at the Minister's doorstep and it is up to his Department to provide funding for houses for children who are homeless. Dublin Corporation should not have to do that. The Minister gave a commitment—
The Deputy should ask a question.
—and in light of that commitment will he not accept that there is an onus on him to provide the necessary funding to acquire these houses?
As part of one of the most significant initiatives ever taken on homelessness we are providing £1 million this year to the Eastern Health Board and a series of new facilities for homeless children. This has come about as a result of a demand to keep children in their own areas, and the Dublin local authorities have responded positively. They see the provision of five or six houses as a vitally important part of their role. We hope to have this initiative in place shortly which will provide houses in areas like Tallaght, north Clondalkin, Ballymun and Darndale for young homeless children in particular who will not be allowed to go into the city thereby preventing them becoming part of the long-term homelessness problem. This is a major initiative and that the local authorities and the Eastern Health Board are involved is significant. We will provide the money for this project as well as money for a series of other projects which will be announced shortly.
I do not know if the Minister of State is aware of the housing problem in Dublin. Does he accept that those houses are not currently available? If the Minister had been prepared to provide funding to purchase houses in the areas he referred to they would be in the system by now? The Minister of State should not expect the local authorities to do that. The Minister, Deputy Cowen, made a great deal of noise in his post-budget announcement and there was a general understanding that he would provide funding.
The Deputy is making a statement.
We are providing funding and in a number of cases we hope to get houses that are boarded up.
Who will refurbish them?
We will cover the cost of refurbishment.
That is passing the buck.
It is not. I fail to understand the Deputy's logic. Surely one of the most important requirements in a large local authority estate such as Darndale is to use a house that is boarded up rather that leave it as it is.
Houses could be purchased.
We cannot go into those areas and purchase lands because there is no land for sale in Darndale.
There are many houses for sale.
Will the Minister of State accept there has been much debate on the issue of the total number of homeless people in Dublin? As he is aware, the national housing assessment took place on 31 March. Following discussions between the Minister and the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, when will he be in a position to announce to the House the actual number of homeless persons in the Dublin area?
The question is about child homelessness.
I am sure the Minister would like to reply.
It was estimated last year that there were approximately 100 homeless children in the Dublin area. We brought forward proposals which are now being implemented to address the problem of homeless children once and for all.
