Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 May 2000

Vol. 520 No. 1

Written Answers. - Homeless Persons.

Ivor Callely

Question:

291 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the support his Department offers to homeless people; if he will consider special initiatives to help the homeless especially in the current economic climate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14884/00]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

Under the social welfare system, homeless persons have the same entitlements as any other Irish citizen. If they are unemployed but capable of and genuinely seeking work, then they can apply for unemployment assistance. They can be paid basic supplementary welfare allowance, SWA, if they do not fulfil the conditions for any other primary weekly payment from my Department. In addition, they can also apply for payments such as rent supplementation, diet supplement and exceptional needs payments under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.

One of the most important supports provided to homeless people through the social welfare system is assistance with rent deposits to enable them to secure private rented accommodation. Some £1.5 million was provided for rent deposits in 1999.

The main policy initiative taken recently in relation to homelessness was the establishment of a cross departmental team on the issue, under the aegis of the Department of the Environment and Local Government. The team also included rep resentatives of my Department and the Departments of Education and Science, Finance, Health and Children and Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Its report was published recently by my colleague, the Minister with responsibility for housing and urban renewal and the main recommendations have been accepted by the Government.

As a result, action plans for the delivery of services to homeless people are to be drawn up by local authorities and health boards. Additional funding will be provided and a homeless forum will be established in each county, bringing together the statutory and voluntary agencies responding to the needs of homeless people.