Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 June 2004
63 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the recent annual report of the Dublin Simon Community which found that the number of families and children experiencing homelessness had increased significantly since 1999; the steps that are being taken to deal with this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16520/04]
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I am aware of the recent comments of the Dublin Simon Community on the number of homeless persons and households identified in the assessments of housing need undertaken by local authorities in 1999 and 2002. Full details of the outcome of the assessments were also published in my Department's housing statistics bulletins in 1999 and 2002.
The Government is committed to tackling the issue of homelessness in a sustained and vigorous manner. Since the launch of the integrated and preventative strategies on homelessness in 2000 and 2002, respectively, there has been considerable and sustained progress in the provision of a wide range of accommodation facilities and services to meet the specific needs of homeless households. In spite of demands from other social housing areas, the funding for accommodation and related services for homeless persons has increased again this year. The total of €51 million available this year brings to €190.6 million the total provided for this purpose since 2000.
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 of homeless ex-offenders, have been put in place.
To date, the emphasis has been on the provision of emergency accommodation and it is now widely acknowledged that the availability of this type of accommodation, where the majority of homeless persons are currently housed, is generally adequate to meet existing needs. The next challenge is to ensure that more permanent accommodation becomes available to those homeless persons who wish to and are in a position to avail of it. The preparation of the housing action plans currently being finalised by local authorities will facilitate the planning and provision of such accommodation. In this context, it is estimated that the funding available will enable local authorities to meet the housing needs of 13,000 households in 2004 compared with 8,500 in 1998.
