Vol. 411 No. 6
44 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Health the progress which has been made in regard to the implementation of the commitment given by the Minister of State at his Department in his address to the Irish Association of Social Workers in May last that additional places would be provided for young homeless people to end the problem of children sleeping rough; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The provision of additional residential places is one aspect of an overall strategy to develop a comprehensive, integrated service to combat the problem of youth homelessness. This strategy is being developed and co-ordinated by Mr. Chris Flood T.D., Minister of State at my Department, who has been given special responsibility for this area.
In regard to the Dublin area, where the problem of youth homelessness is greatest, a number of projects are being developed to provide additional accommodation. These include the provision of a new therapeutic unit at Glen House, Naas; the transfer of the Catholic Social Service Conference Hostel from Percy Place to Eccles Street providing two new additional places; a new ten place unit for boys at Dalkey to be run by the Los Angeles Society; the expansion of the Homeless Girls Society hostel in Sherrard Street to provide ten extra places and the provision by the Catholic Social Service Conference of an after-care unit in Lennox Street.
The Eastern Health Board are in negotiation with a religious order to establish a long term residential unit for girls. In addition, the board are expanding the number of short term emergency places available under their family ‘carer' scheme and by the use of sheltered flats/digs and semi-independent accommodation.
Outside the Dublin area, approval has been given to the provision of new residential units at Limerick, Stranorlar and Cork and new hostel facilities at Athlone, Galway and Sligo.
Additional funding for these services, including the recruitment of necessary staff, has been provided in accordance with the commitment given by the Government under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress.
