Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 December 2005
511 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has satisfied himself that the strategy to tackle homelessness is effectively addressing the problem in Dublin; if there is a group who are not accessing any service; if there are initiatives to reach them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38013/05]
View answer
Local authorities and the Health Service Executive are responsible for meeting the accommodation and health care needs of homeless persons. The Government's integrated and preventative strategies on homelessness provide the framework within which the agencies fulfil these responsibilities. Under the terms of the integrated strategy, homeless fora attended by representatives of the statutory and voluntary homeless sectors were established at local authority level and the homeless action plans which were adopted under their aegis are being implemented. These developments have resulted in the provision of a wide range of additional accommodation and services for homeless persons.
Significant progress has been made in the Dublin area over the last number of years in providing for and improving services to homeless persons. Rough sleepers have been enabled to access emergency accommodation and homeless persons have been facilitated to move out of emergency accommodation into accommodation more suitable to their needs. Increased levels of day care facilities, together with specific provisions to meet the needs of homeless ex-offenders and people with addiction problems who are sleeping rough.
Rough sleeping is the extreme manifestation of homelessness and statutory and voluntary agencies work in close co-operation to minimise it. In Dublin, where the largest incidence of rough sleeping occurs, Dublin City Council operates a night bus service where clients are given access to accommodation and appropriate outreach services. This service, which originally operated as a cold weather response, now operates on a year-round basis. An online system to facilitate the prompt identification of vacant emergency accommodation on a nightly basis has recently been introduced by the Homeless Agency, with funding from my Department. This will ensure optimum use of the accommodation to meet the needs of rough sleepers. Rough sleeping initiatives also operate in the other main urban areas with specific measures put in place during colder weather as necessary.
The continued implementation of a cold weather strategy in the Dublin area by the Homeless Agency with the co-operation of the voluntary service providers serves to minimise the risks posed during this time through the provision of additional shelter and services for rough sleepers. The statutory bodies continue to monitor the level and capacity of service required and seek to ensure that harm reduction measures are at an optimum level at all times.
The continued provision of adequate funding is of major importance. While the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons is the responsibility of local authorities, my Department recoups 90% of their expenditure in this area. In 2004, a total of €45.7 million was recouped to local authorities while the allocation for 2005 is €51 million. This brings to €240 million the total funding made available for this purpose since 2000. The Department of Health and Children has provided an additional €30.2 million in the same period to meet the care needs of homeless persons. The outcome of the review of the implementation of the homeless strategies and their associated local homeless action plans will inform future policy developments in this area.
512 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to develop in the Dublin region the minimum of two refuges as committed to in both the 2001 and 2004 Dublin homeless strategies; and when they will be completed. [38028/05]
View answer521 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the need for additional women’s refuges for the victims of domestic violence in the Dublin region; his plans to increase funding for such refuges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38106/05]
View answer
I propose to take Questions Nos. 512 and 521 together.
The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, through its role as chair of the national steering committee on violence against women, has overall responsibility for issues relating to violence against women. Local authorities and the Health Service Executive are responsible for meeting the accommodation and health care needs of homeless persons. The implementation of local homeless action plans, in this case the action plan on homelessness for Dublin 2004 to 2006, Making it Home, is a matter for the relevant statutory agencies in the Dublin area.
With regard to accommodation, capital funding is available through my Department's capital assistance scheme to voluntary housing bodies providing accommodation to meet special housing needs, including accommodation for victims of domestic violence. My Department recoups to the local authorities 90% of their current expenditure on accommodation related costs arising in respect of homeless persons including, where appropriate, victims of domestic violence. The remaining 10% is provided from the revenue resources of the local authorities. Decisions on funding for accommodation of victims of domestic violence, including refuges and transitional accommodation, are matters for the local authority in whose area the accommodation is situated. Associated care costs are the responsibility of the Department of Health and Children.
513 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the status of the proposed Blanchardstown refuge development; if funding will be made available to proceed with the development; and, if so, when. [38029/05]
View answer
I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 143 to 147 of 17 November 2005. A meeting is now being arranged with officials of my Department, Fingal County Council and the voluntary body concerned, with a view to clarifying the matters which are outstanding and to discuss ways in which the project can be progressed.
