Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 8 Oct 1998

Vol. 494 No. 6

Written Answers. - Homeless People.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

50 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people registered as homeless; if the registered figures are a true reflection of the current situation; the proposals, if any, he has to address homelessness; the funding available for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18849/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The total number of homeless according to the local authority homeless assessment carried out in March 1996 is 2,501. This figure is regarded as a conservative estimate by organisations providing services for the homeless, but I am not in a position to comment on this. The number of out of home young people is not included. The nature and extent of the problem of homeless young people varies between health boards and between community care areas. Because of the transient nature of the problem and the transient lifestyle of some young people it is difficult to estimate the number of homeless young people throughout Ireland. However, it is recognised that the problem is most acute in the Eastern Health Board region. On average 12 young people per night present to the social work service operating outside normal office hours and the Eastern Health Board estimates that 400 young people are out of home in the region each year. Asylum seekers are not categorised as homeless but are receiving assistance with accommodation. Currently the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has over 6,000 applications for asylum on hands and the majority of these would be receiving assistance with accommodation.

In accordance with the provisions of the Child Care Act, 1991, health boards have responsibility for promoting the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection and for the provision of child care and family support services. The provision of suitable accommodation for children who are homeless is one of the services concerned. In the period 1993 to 1997 an additional £43.5 million on an annualised basis was invested in the development of child care and family support services, including services for the young homeless. Accommodation for homeless adults is normally provided by local authorities, although some health boards are involved, on behalf of the relevant local authority, in arranging emergency accommodation. Many homeless adults have health related problems, such as those connected with drugs, AIDS, alcoholism or mental health and would be involved in programmes, provided by the health boards, targeted at these problems. It is not possible to isolate the cost, applicable to homeless adults, of these services.