I thank you for giving me an opportunity to raise this important matter this evening. I thank especially the Minister for Health, Deputy Noonan, for having come into the House to take this business.
On 1 October 1992 former Minister for Health, Deputy Dr. John O'Connell, implemented the provisions of section 5 of the Child Care Act, 1991, which places responsibility on each health board to provide suitable accommodation for homeless children.
Regrettably, in recent years there has been a growing tendency on the part of the Eastern and other health boards, to place homeless children in bed and breakfast accommodation. I would not say this should never happen; of course, it can happen in extreme emergencies, but it should not become the norm. Recent figures available to me suggest that the numbers of young people being placed in bed and breakfast accommodation are increasing and that the duration of their stay is also lengthening. For example, in 1991, the average length of stay of homeless children in bed and breakfast accommodation was 8.7 nights which figure had risen, by 1993, to 26.3 nights. It is inappropriate that such accommodation should be used and become part of the established response to homeless children.
The out-of-hour service for homeless children I established in the Eastern Health Board region when serving as Minister of State in the Department of Health has been run very effectively but it cannot be effective from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. if sufficient emergency places are not available to accommodate young people who, for a variety of reasons, are homeless and in need of attention. The voluntary sector has always played an important role in the provision of accommodation for homeless young people. Nowhere is this more evident than in the greater Dublin region.
I wish to refer to the difficulty that has arisen in the hostel in Ballymun which was established by Fr. McVerry in response to a need in 1983. There are complexities because people under the age of 18 covered by the Child Care Act are accommodated there as are people over 18 who, in terms of accommodation, are the responsibility of the Department of the Environment. I understand there are complex issues to be tackled, but I am disappointed that it appears that relationships between the Eastern Health Board, the landlords of the hostel, Dublin Corporation, and the local residents' association seem to have deteriorated in recent times. I understand in the past there was a commitment by the Eastern Health Board to provide accommodation in the greater Ballymun area for young homeless boys who, in a crisis in their community, would not necessarily have to be plucked out of it and moved away from it, their families and schools. The proposed project in the past was Geralds-town House and I am disappointed to note that it appears that facility is not yet in place. Consequently, there is an evident need for Fr. McVerry's hostel to continue operating. I would prefer if it were in a better location and had more broadly based support from the Eastern Health Board and Dublin Corporation. It is a fundamental part of the voluntary sector which has always played a substantial role in addressing this issue in the greater Dublin area. I call on the Minister to use his influence and good offices to resolve the difficulty that appears to exist between the operator of the hostel and the statutory agencies to which I referred and to put in place and develop, through the resources made available by the former Minister for Health, Deputy Howlin, a proper facility within the greater Ballymun area for young homeless boys under the age of 18 who, unfortunately, are homeless on a temporary or long-term basis.
