Vol. 553 No. 4
135 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his plans to eliminate homelessness as soon as possible in view of the fact that many citizens in Dublin are homeless and sleeping rough for more than four or five years. [14179/02]
One of the key requirements of the Government's integrated strategy on homelessness was that local three year action plans, detailing how accommodation, health, settlement and welfare services will be provided to homeless persons by all of the agencies involved, would be drawn up by homeless fora. This would include representatives of the local authority, health board and voluntary sectors.
The three year action plan for the Dublin area was adopted in May 2001. It provides a clear framework for the planning and delivery of support and services to the homeless. The long-term vision of the plan is that by 2010 long-term homelessness and the need for people to sleep rough will be eliminated in Dublin. As part of the plan, effective preventative policies and services are being developed so that the risk of a person or family becoming homeless will be minimised. Where homelessness does occur it will be short-term. All people who are homeless will be assisted into housing that is appropriate to their needs.
