John Gormley
Question:121 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the plans he has with regard to the question of homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5004/01]
Written Answers. - Homeless Persons.
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 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 £2 million was provided for rent deposits in 2000. 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 representatives of my Department and the Departments of Education and Science, Finance, Health and Children and Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
Its report was published last year by my colleague, the Minister of State 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 being drawn up by local authorities and health boards. Additional funding has been provided and a homeless forum is being established in each county, bringing together the statutory and voluntary agencies responding to the needs of homeless people.
The Dublin action plan on homelessness was recently agreed and provides for the establishment of the Dublin Homeless Services Agency to co-ordinate and manage an integrated approach to the delivery of services to homeless people. My officials have been in contact with the agency with a view to ensuring that my Department contributes to improving the position of homeless people where possible. In addition, my Department has provided additional resources to the Eastern Regional Health Authority's homeless persons unit to assist them in improving the level of service that they provide to homeless people.