Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Jan 1992

Vol. 415 No. 1

Written Answers. - Homeless Persons Statistics.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

304 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment if, in view of the requirement that housing authorities should carry out a separate count of the total number of homeless persons identified by each authority at the same time as the most recent assessment of housing needs of persons/households seeking local authority housing, he will issue a list of figures obtained from this count for each housing authority area; and if, in the case of any authority which has not provided a specific figure from zero upwards he will outline (a) the particular authority and (b) the anticipated date for receipt of the outstanding figures.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

309 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment if he has received the reports on the scale of homelessness; if he has published the results of the assessment carried out by local authorities which were due to have been completed by 31 March 1991; if not, when he expects the due date of publication to be; and if these results will include (a) the methodology utilised by each local authority in drawing up the figures and (b) the level of consultation which each local authority had with voluntary organisations which would provide accommodation or work with homeless people especially in view of his reply dated 7 November 1991 in which he stated that he had not received the reports from a number of housing authorities at that time.

Minister for the Environment (Dr. O'Hanlon)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 304 and 309 together.

I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 145 and 146 of 7 November 1991.

The returns by housing authorities on their assessment of the scale of homelessness in their areas as at 31 March 1991 are being computed with a view to their publication in the near future. Naas Urban District Council is now the only authority whose return is still outstanding.