Seán Haughey
Question:732 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the measures he has taken since 1997 to deal with homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1354/02]
Written Answers. - Homelessness Strategy.
The Government has developed and put in place a range of measures since 1997 to tackle homelessness. In 1998, a cross-Department team on homelessness was established under the aegis of my Department to devise more effective ways of tackling homelessness. A comprehensive Government strategy "Homelessness An Integrated Strategy" was published in May 2000.
The strategy explicitly recognised that homelessness is not just about a lack of living accommodation, but that the health, care, welfare, education and training needs of homeless persons needed to be addressed in a co-ordinated manner if the problem of homelessness is to be tackled effectively. As part of the strategy all local authorities are required to draw up homeless action plans in conjunction with health boards and voluntary bodies. The plans for the main urban areas have already been completed and the measures in them are currently being implemented. The plans for other areas are well underway and should be completed shortly.
Substantial additional funding has been made available to ensure that the recommendations in the homelessness strategy are implemented. Capital funding for the direct provision by local authorities of accommodation for homeless persons is being doubled from 25.4 million to 50.8 million for the period 2001-2006 and current funding to assist towards the provision of accommodation for homeless persons, generally by voluntary housing bodies – was increased from 4.4 million in 1997 to 31.7 million in 2001. Hostel and other accommodation is also provided by voluntary bodies with capital funding provided under the capital assistance and the rental subsidy schemes operated by my Department. In the period 1997 to 2001, some 109 projects for homeless persons at an estimated cost of 97.8 million have been approved under the capital assistance scheme. Additional funding is also being made available by the Department of Health and Children to fund the provision of in-house care in hostels providing accommodation for homeless persons.
An important element of the Government's strategy is the need to provide additional accommodation, and a greater variety of accommodation type, to cater for the varying needs of homeless persons, including homeless families. Additional transitional and move-on accommodation is also being provided both by local authorities and voluntary bodies to enable people to move out of emergency accommodation, whether in bed and breakfast accommodation or hostels, into accommodation that is more suitable to their needs.
As part of the homelessness strategy, it was agreed that preventative strategies would be prepared by key Government Departments to target groups at risk of homelessness, particularly those leaving institutional care, whether custodial or health related, and young people leaving care. These plans have now been prepared and co-ordinated into an overall strategy by my Department. The strategy will be published shortly and is designed to ensure that people leaving State care do not become homeless.