Brendan Howlin
Ceist:118 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health the total number of beds provided for homeless people in shelters and hostels which are either supplied directly by health boards or by organisations subvented by health boards.
Written Answers. - Provisions for Homeless.
The total number of places available in homes, hostels and shelters for all categories of homeless people i.e. men, women, families and young persons is approximately 1,730.
In addition, the health boards may also make arrangements from time to time for the temporary accommodation of homeless persons in other facilities.
Brendan Howlin
Ceist:119 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to criticisms by the National Campaign for the Homeless that the living conditions of homeless people in night shelters are unacceptable and degrading; and if he will consider introducing a crash programme of improvements and regulations for minimum standards along the lines of those applied to nursing homes.
I am aware of the comments made by the National Campaign for the Homeless about the living conditions of homeless people in night shelters. While I accept that conditions in some of the shelters are less than ideal, I would remind the Deputy that the night shelters are provided by voluntary bodies who are doing tremendous work to provide the best possible accommodation within the resources available to them.
Since the enactment of the Housing Act, 1988, the primary responsibility for adult homeless rests with the housing authorities. Under theProgramme for Economic and Social Progress, the Department of the Environment are committed to taking special steps to ensure the full implementation of the Act by housing authorities. My Department are in discussion with the Department of the Environment with regard to the future role of health boards in this area, particularly in relation to night shelter accommodation.
I might also mention that the voluntary housing scheme operated by the Department of the Environment provides assistance towards the costs of providing housing units for homeless persons. Payment in respect of 469 such units and flatlets was sanctioned in 1990.
Brendan Howlin
Ceist:120 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the plans which exist to deal with homelessness among young people, in the light of continued criticisms of inaction by the health boards in coping with the persistent problem.
The Government are very conscious of the difficulties faced by young homeless persons and are taking a number of initiatives to tackle the problem.
The Child Care Bill which passed all Stages of the House before Christmas contains important new provisions to assist young homeless people. The Bill, when enacted, will impose a statutory duty on the health boards to promote the welfare of children up to the age of 18 who are not receiving adequate care or protection.
Of particular relevance is an entirely new section in the Bill requiring the health boards to investigate the circumstances of homeless children and, in appropriate cases, either to receive these children into care or to take steps to make accommodation available for them.
The Bill will shortly be introduced in the Seanad and, as is indicated in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, the Government are committed to providing the additional resources necessary to bring the legislation into operation as soon as practicable after its enactment. I have set aside a sum of £1 million this year to begin the implementation of the Bill.
A number of developments aimed at meeting the needs of the young homeless have been initiated. Particular emphasis has been placed on the problems which have arisen in the Eastern Health Board area. Examples of these initiatives include the assignment of a special team of social workers to deal specifically with homeless young people. This is supported by a centralised crisis accommodation unit; a new community residential project for boys has been established in Tallaght, which provides residential care for boys between 12 and 16 years of age; a similar residential project for girls has been set up in the Ballymun area; a new long term residential unit has been developed in the Clontarf area which caters for boys in the 11 to 14 age group; the setting up by the Eastern Health Board of a new project called "Carers for Young People" which will cater for adolescents who have had difficulty adapting to other settings; the purchase of a premises near Blessington which will house a therapeutic unit for boys and girls with special difficulties. This is due to come on stream in the first half of this year; and negotiations are also taking place between the Eastern Health Board and a number of organisations regarding the provision of additional emergency and long term accommodation for both boys and girls.
Outside the Eastern Health Board area a number of other initiatives for the young homeless are being supported. Approval has recently been given to the Southern Health Board to build a new group home at Shanakiel Road, Cork. Funds have also been made available to the Mid-Western Health Board to develop a new unit for adolescents near Limerick. Projects in Galway, Tullamore and Sligo for disadvantaged youth are also being supported.