Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 10 Feb 2000

Vol. 514 No. 2

Written Answers. - Homeless Persons.

Noel Ahern

Question:

103 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of homeless people or families in each of the local authority areas in Dublin; the number in emer- gency accommodation; the duration they are in this emergency accommodation, for example, less than one month, one to three months, four to six months, seven to nine months and over nine months; and if he will make a statement on the matter particularly in relation to the number of long-term homeless families. [3873/00]

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

Statistics for the number of homeless persons and homeless households in each of the four Dublin local authorities, as published in the assessment of housing needs which was compiled in March, 1999, are set out in the following table.

Local Authority Area	Total No. of homeless persons	Households consisting of one person	Households consisting of more than one person
DublinCorporation	3,640	1,978	580
South Dublin	167	18	49
Dún LaoghaireRathdown	85	7	27
Fingal	26	3	7

Information on the duration of the stay of homeless persons in emergency accommodation is not available in my Department.

It is primarily a matter for the local authorities concerned, in co-operation with the other statutory and voluntary agencies, to formulate responses to meet the accommodation and welfare needs of homeless people in their areas. My Department will continue to afford priority to providing resources and support for a range of measures to meet the accommodation needs of homeless persons. In addition, the cross-department team on homelessness under the aegis of my Department is due to report shortly on a comprehensive response to the problem of homelessness and I anticipate that the report will include recommendations to improve the situation of homeless families.