As part of the Government's integrated strategy 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. With regard to the action plan for Cork city, the plan for 2001-03 has been completed and I understand that the plan for 2004-06 is at present being finalised by the relevant agencies.
The Government is committed to continuing to support local statutory and voluntary bodies in tackling the issue of homelessness. I am satisfied that significant progress has been made in addressing the issue in Cork since the publication of the homeless strategies. 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. In 2003, the Simon Community in Cork received €861,300 for its accommodation related homeless services and I understand, €780,000 from the Southern Health Board for the care related costs of its projects.
Should the Cork Simon Community wish to seek additional funding for an extension of its activities under its community plan 2004-07, the application should, in the first instance, be made to the local statutory authorities. It is vital that all applications and proposals are considered and routed through the Cork City Homeless Forum to ensure that they are consistent with the homeless action plan, that optimum use is made of available funding and to avoid unnecessary duplication of services.