Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
776 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the success in the past four years of the Government fund strategy to address homelessness in Dublin; the high level goals of the strategy; the extent to which they have been achieved; and the issues which have been identified as the main obstacle to better progress in relation to homelessness and sleeping rough in the city. [11288/04]
View answer
As part of the Government's integrated and preventative strategies on homelessness, local authorities, together with health boards and other statutory and voluntary bodies, were required to draw up local action plans to tackle homelessness in their areas. The Homeless Agency is charged with the implementation of the action plans drawn up by the four Dublin local authorities. I understand that a review of progress in implementing the main aims of the Dublin action plan was recently carried out on behalf of the agency and I have arranged for a copy of the action plans and review document be sent to the Deputy.
I am satisfied that significant progress has been made in addressing the issue of homelessness in Dublin since the publication of the homeless strategies. The Government is committed to continuing its support of the efforts of the local statutory and voluntary agencies in tackling this issue. My Department's provision for the recoupment to local authorities of 90% of the cost of providing accommodation and related services for homeless persons in 2004 is €51 million. This brings to €190.6 million the total provided for this purpose since 2000. Further funding is provided by the local authorities and, in the case of care related services, by the health boards.
A review of the implementation of the integrated and preventative homeless strategies and their associated local action plans will commence in the near future.
777 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the expenditure incurred in each of the past four years in relation to the homelessness strategy of the Government, distinguishing the key areas of expenditure and the activities and outcomes which have been achieved under each heading of expenditure. [11289/04]
View answer
While the provision of accommodation for homeless persons is the responsibility of local housing authorities my Department recoups to them 90% of their expenditure on the provision of accommodation and related services. Details of amounts recouped over the past four years are as follows:
|
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
|
€ million |
€ million |
€ million |
€ million |
|
15.8 |
31.7 |
42.9 |
49.2 |
This funding has enabled local authorities to provide services appropriate to the needs of homeless persons within their functional areas. Local authorities meet the balance of 10% of the costs from their own revenue while the care costs associated with these services are provided by the health boards.
A wide range of additional accommodation, ranging from emergency accommodation to long-term sheltered accommodation has been provided. This has enabled rough sleepers to access emergency accommodation and allowed homeless persons to move out of emergency accommodation and into accommodation more suitable to their needs. Increased levels of day care facilities together with specific provisions to meet the needs of people with addiction problems or who are sleeping rough, as well as homeless ex-offenders, have been put in place.
A review of the implementation of the integrated and preventative homeless strategies and their associated action plans will commence in the near future.
