Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:44 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health the steps, if any, he proposes to take to encourage health boards to provide residential places for homeless children in the State.
Written Answers. - Homeless Children.
Liz O'Donnell
Ceist:74 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health his response and strategy to deal with the extent of youth homelessness in the Eastern Health Board area as revealed in the Eastern Health Board's report Young People out of Home; and if he will make a statement on the matter in view of his responsibilities under the Child Care Act, 1990.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 74 together.
Section 5 of the Child Care Act, 1991, which is just over one year in force, has imposed for the first time ever a statutory duty on the health boards to provide accommodation for homeless children. In anticipation of the commencement of this provision, additional funding was made available to the health boards during 1991 and 1992 for the development of new services and facilities for homeless children. Over 40 extra hostel and other residential places have been developed in the Dublin area and an additional 30 places outside Dublin.
Earlier this year the Government indicated its commitment to the full implementation of the Child Care Act over a three year period and have made available an additional £5 million this year to begin the process. I have recently approved a package of new developments for each health board area which includes the provision of additional residential places for the young homeless.
In the Eastern Health Board area, where the incidence of youth homelessness is highest, I have approved the following initiatives: additional funding for Focus Point "Off the Streets" project which provides accommodation for difficult to place youngsters; additional funding for Eccles Street hostel to increase places from 12 to 14; provision of funding for boys' hostel at Botanic Road, Glasnevin; funding for accommodation for adolescent girls at Salvation Army, Eden Quay.
Outside of the Eastern Health Board area, the new service developments include: the provision of a grant of £100,000 towards the development of Termon Residential Centre for Homeless Girls in Cork and the development of a new residential service for homeless children and abused spouses in Castlebar, County Mayo.
The 1994 Estimates include a provision of £15 million to implement the Child Care Act during the coming year. This will meet the full year costs of the various initiatives launched this year and will also finance a further round of major new service developments that will amount to £10 million in a full year. While the precise details of new service developments still have to be finalised with the health boards it is my intention that further progress will be made next year towards the provision of a comprehensive range of facilities and services that are geared to address the specific needs of this particularly vulnerable group of children.
I have received a copy of the report referred to by Deputy O'Donnell and I am currently examining it. I have been assured by the Eastern Health Board that it will have full regard to the report in the context of planning further initiatives to combat the incidence of homelessness among young people in its area.