I am aware of the figures published recently by Simon Outreach which suggested an increase in the number of people sleeping rough in Dublin city centre and I am also aware that there was a degree of selectivity in the data published. The published figures indicated results of counts of homeless persons sleeping rough for 1998 and 1997 but omitted the 1999 results. Moreover, the figures for 1997 and 1998 appear to have been understated.
Had the 1999 figures been included, it would have revealed a significant reduction in the number of homeless persons sleeping rough in the city centre. However, I do not wish to attribute motives behind the omission of one year's data and figures which are open to dispute for earlier years. However, I believe that some reduction in the number of persons sleeping rough in Dublin has been recorded and this is to be welcomed.
Leaving aside the issue of statistics, I am concerned that even one person should be homeless and forced to sleep on the streets of Dublin or anywhere else. The homeless strategy which I launched in May this year called for additional night-time services to be provided for homeless persons, particularly in Dublin. Local authorities are currently preparing action plans which will detail the services that will be provided for homeless persons, including additional facilities and accommodation for people who are forced to sleep rough.
As part of the action plan for Dublin, which is due to be considered by the housing strategic policy committees of the four Dublin authorities shortly, additional facilities and emergency accommodation will be provided for those sleeping rough. However, as it will take some time for these to be put in place, my Department recently asked Dublin Corporation to urgently develop proposals to provide additional night-time service facilities which would provide people on the streets with basic shelter and food at night-time as an emergency interim measure. I am happy that the manager's report to me recently showed that progress is being made on that matter.