Vol. 483 No. 3
32 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the policy, if any, of his Department in relation to the issue of homelessness and the need for a national strategy to be put in place to deal effectively with this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20341/97]
The Housing Act, l988, provides a wide range of additional powers and responsibilities to housing authorities to enable them to provide an effective response to the accommodation needs of homeless persons. Measures which have significantly improved the access of homeless persons to accommodation include the following. The local authority housing programme which in recent years has been maintained at a high and consistent level benefits the homeless in common with other housing needs. A substantial part of the accommodation provided under the voluntary housing schemes has been for homeless persons. I recently announced significant improvements in those schemes which will enable the voluntary sector to increase its output of housing. My Department recoups to housing authorities 90 per cent of their expenditure on the accommodation of homeless persons. The amount recouped to authorities has increased steadily from £902,000 in 1993 to £3.1 million in 1996 and is expected to be about £6 million in 1997. An after hours referral service on a freefone basis is in operation in the Dublin region in counties Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow for homeless persons seeking accommodation outside normal working hours. The Dublin Housing Initiative was established in 1996 to secure better co-ordination and delivery of services for the homeless in the Dublin region and to provide a framework for a more co-operative and unified approach by the statutory authorities working with the voluntary sector. I will continue to keep the need for improvement to accommodation services for the homeless under review.
Is it the Department's intention to develop a national strategy to deal with homelessness? The Minister may not be aware there is a specific priority given to it in the policy platform of both Government parties where there is a serious commitment to undertake an assessment of homelessness and develop a national strategy. Where is this strategy? Will groups involved with homelessness be consulted on the Minister's plans?
The Government has established a ministerial committee on social exclusion. Is the Minister a member of this committee? One of the key issues of social exclusion is the residual group of people who have no homes. If the Minister is a member, what work is he doing? Is it his role to lead the strategy on homelessness or is it that of the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children?
I hardly need Deputy Hayes to remind me of the content of the programme for Government, which I negotiated on behalf of my party, with my colleague, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Dempsey, who did so on behalf of his party. We specifically included a commitment to undertake an assessment of homelessness and develop a national strategy. We emphasised that special recognition would be given to the needs of those with mental handicap and autism requiring residential care. It is an extensive commitment.
I will fulfil my responsibilities. I am concerned about the problem of homelessness. Many safety nets have been put in place in recent years, particularly since the most recent Housing Act. They are kept under review to ensure they operate effectively. I recently announced substantial increases in income limits and grant assistance in relation to the capital assistance scheme, the remedial work scheme and other schemes which benefit those with a housing problem. These were the subject of many supplementary questions on the last occasion questions to the Minister for the Environment and Local Government were taken. I am sure Deputy Hayes is pleased I have taken specific and effective action which has been widely welcomed by voluntary housing associations.
I have visited many facilities provided in this city and other places since assuming special responsibility for housing. I assure Deputy Hayes and the House that I will concentrate much of my energy and time in ensuring this assessment is carried out efficiently and effectively and in taking whatever additional measures are deemed appropriate to alleviate the problem of homelessness.
This does not only extend to homelessness but to ensuring our community is in a position to have homes in which to rear a family and that there are proper facilities for the homeless to provide them with shelter and care. There are those in society who choose not to take a traditional local authority house or the option offered by the various voluntary housing organisations. There are many levels of need and I am concerned to ensure as much attention as possible is given to this problem and that as many resources as possible are devoted to it by this Government. Substantial increases have been agreed by the Government for investment in this area, as is evident from the publication of the Estimates for the Department of the Environment and Local Government for 1998.
How many people are homeless? The Minister of State referred to a figure of £6 million as his Department's estimated expenditure on homelessness in 1997. To how many homeless persons does that figure relate?
I recognise and welcome the recent announcement by the Minister of State, in Galway, to the voluntary sector. I note there were also significant increases for the islands off the west coast. Will the Minister of State answer my question? Does he intend to produce a national strategy on this subject? Is he a member of the Government's committee on social exclusion?
The Minister, Deputy Dempsey, is a member of the committee on social exclusion.
So the Minister of State is not?
I have already answered the question relating to strategy. The answer is yes.
The number of people deemed to be homeless in the assessments carried out in 1996, the most recent figure, was 2,501. The figure in the previous assessment of March 1993 was 2,667. In the previous assessment of March 1991 the figure was 2,751. Looking at the those figures, there seems to have been a slight reduction of about 400 in that period.
Not according to Simon.
However, I am concerned about what lies behind those figures and what provision is being made for accommodation, shelter and caring for the people who are listed. The voluntary bodies claim the real figure is higher than this figure. These were the figures in the assessments undertaken during the periods of office of the last three Governments. The claims that these figures understate the numbers have not been substantiated. It would be a matter of concern to me if people genuinely felt that these figures were not correct. It will be part of the assessment we are carrying out to ensure that we are getting accurate figures. However, these are the figures which were presented to the Department with the help of all the local authorities and those working on the ground, including the health boards who are closest to people in this situation.
Anything that can be done to assess it on a more accurate basis would be welcome. It would not be in anybody's interest to underestimate the numbers involved. In any modern society it is a great tragedy to have people who believe they cannot fit into the system. I do not want them to be totally excluded from it. Care and accommodation must be provided for them in a proper way. Good work is being done by many voluntary organisations that are supported financially by the State, which has the primary responsibility in this matter.
