Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 Oct 1992

Vol. 423 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Homeless Persons.

Eric J. Byrne

Ceist:

11 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the recent document, European Homelessness, the Rising Tide, produced by the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless, which found that Ireland rated poorly compared with most other EC countries in regard to help for the homeless; the new initiatives, if any, he intends to take to deal with the plight of the homeless; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Mr. D. Wallace

I am aware of this report which deals with the full range of services needed by the homeless. My Department's responsibility lies in the area of the provision of accommodation which is comprehensively addressed in A Plan for Social Housing.

The position of homeless persons has been significantly improved by a number of initiatives taken in recent years. The more significant of these include: wider powers, in addition to providing accommodation in local authority housing, conferred on local authorities by the Housing Act, 1988 to secure accommodation for homeless persons; assessments of housing needs undertaken by local authorities now specifically include homeless persons; more flexible financial arrangements have been introduced when voluntary bodies provide accommodation for homeless persons and there is increased Exchequer funding for this purpose; better liaison between housing authorities and voluntary bodies providing accommodation for homeless persons; improved arrangements to provide an emergency response service for homeless persons; new schemes of letting priorities adopted by housing authorities under the Housing Act, 1988 give greater prominence to homeless persons; and the level of capital assistance available to voluntary bodies providing accommodation for, inter alia, homeless persons has been increased substantially.

Mr. Byrne

Would the Minister of State agree that far from improving the position is getting worse and that it is unacceptable in a Christian country such as this that the position in relation to the homeless is getting worse at an alarming rate? Is he aware, for example, that the hostels in Dublin city are overcrowded and that between 1990 and 1992 the number of bednights in bed and breakfast accommodation has increased to a startling 5,245 in the Eastern Health Board area? Finally, would the Minister of State agree that the only real solution to the problem of homelessness in this city and the country in general is for the Minister and his colleagues in cabinet to restart the public house building programme?

Mr. D. Wallace

First, let me take this opportunity to pay tribute to voluntary bodies throughout the country for the work they are doing in trying to meet the needs of the homeless and many other sectors of our community. Nowhere else in the world would you find people who are so committed. Irrespective of what may be said, we could not provide the service were it not for those people.

I do not accept, however, that the position has not improved because it has. Increased resources have been provided. For instance, in Dublin Focus Point have provided 96 units at Stanhope Green while 155 units have been provided at Iveagh House hostel. In addition, the Salvation Army at Granby Place, Dublin and the Simon Community in both Dublin and Cork have also provided units. Every effort is being made in close co-operation with my Department.

This is not just a problem for the Department of the Environment; it is also a problem for the Departments of Health and Social Welfare. For this reason the co-ordinating body, with the Eastern Health Board and other relevant bodies, are monitoring the situation. As a result of co-ordination and the close links between the voluntary and statutory bodies the position is improving. I agree that more work must be done but I am satisfied that improvements are taking place.

Mr. Byrne

I am amazed the Minister is arguing that the position has improved. Would the Minister not agree that, even before the 3 per cent increase in mortgage rates, in the Eastern Health Board area alone 3,000 families were in receipt of mortgage supplements? These people were one step away from homelessness.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy should proceed by way of questions rather than imparting information.

Mr. Byrne

The Minister does not seem to understand that this is the case because he is telling us that there is no housing crisis.

An Ceann Comhairle

We must proceed in an orderly fashion at Question Time. If the Deputy wishes to ask a brief, relevant and succinct question let us hear it.

Mr. Byrne

Would the Minister not agree that there would be no need for the payment of almost £16 million in mortgage and rent supplements in the Eastern Health Board area if house building was restarted?

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy raised that matter earlier.

Mr. Byrne

This would ease the burden on those who are on the housing list. What is the Minister going to do about this matter?

Mr. D. Wallace

I would advise the Deputy that there has been an increase in the number of houses built. Perhaps the Deputy is not aware of the statistics.

Mr. Dukes

That is absolute nonsense. The Minister gave the figures earlier. They are going down every year.

Mr. D. Wallace

We are approaching this matter in a very positive and humane way. I am satisfied we are making improvements and we will continue to do so.

Mr. McCartan

In acknowledging the Minister's tribute to the voluntary groups working with the homeless in Dublin and elsewhere, I would ask him to have regard to the reports published recently by the Simon Community and Focus Point on the deplorable condition of hostels for homeless people, particularly in the city of Dublin? Second, would he take the time to visit some of the hostels that exist in Dublin whose inadequacies can only be realised by visiting them? All the steps referred to by the Minister relate to local authority house building and local authority co-operation. Does the Minister not accept that the vast majority of people in hostels in Dublin and in his own city are permanent, if not semi-permanent, residents simply because there is nowhere else for them to go? Close co-operation with local authorities——

An Ceann Comhairle

That should be adequate, Deputy.

Mr. McCartan

There are no houses for these people.

Mr. D. Wallace

Under the plan for social housing many of those bodies have an opportunity to participate more fully in this area — I mentioned the number of houses that would be built this year — and they are doing excellent work. I am satisfied we are going down the right road and that the needs of the community are being well catered for in the development of the social housing plan.

Mr. Bell

Will the Minister indicate what he means by co-ordination? As a member of two local authorities I believe that local authorities do not know who is responsible for the homeless. Is it the local authority, the Department of Health through the health board or the local officer through the Department of Social Welfare? In my county nobody seems to know who is responsible for the homeless.

Mr. D. Wallace

Responsibility for the homeless rests with the Department of the Environment through the local authorities and, as I have said, there are other aspects for which the Departments of Health and Social Welfare have responsibility. With proper co-ordination between the relevant statutory and voluntary bodies we can play a more positive part on behalf of the homeless.

Mr. McCartan

May I ask one final question?

An Ceann Comhairle

Sorry, Deputy, we are making very little progress today at Question Time. Other questions are deserving of reply also.