Written Answers. - Homeless Problem.
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:
306
Mr. Sargent
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
if he will report on the extent of homelessness on a county by county basis comparing the figures available with those five and ten years ago; and if he will make a statement on the trends revealed.
[27493/98]
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:
307
Mr. Sargent
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the information, if any, he has as to the reasons people become homeless; and the Government plans, if any, to address and eliminate the scourge of homelessness apart from providing extra hostel accommodation.
[27494/98]
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:
308
Mr. Sargent
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the plans, if any, he has to convene an interdepartmental group to tackle the problem of homelessness in view of the need to address the various problems which cause homelessness as well as the need to co-ordinate the Departments and agencies which would be instrumental in providing housing and other social services for those who have become homeless; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27495/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 306, 307 and 308 together.
I assume the Deputy is referring to homelessness as it affects children and young people. 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 and in particular on a county by county basis. 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.
Since 1993, and up to the end of 1997, and additional allocation of £43.5 million revenue on an annualised basis has been invested in the development of child care and family support services including services for the young homeless. A further £8 million has been made available for this purpose in 1998 and £13 million will be made available in 1999.
A special allocation of £2 million was made available to the Eastern Health Board in late 1997 for the provision of emergency accommodation, a crisis intervention centre and a reception centre where young people can go for assistance, food and shelter. These facilities will be opening shortly.
Young people who find themselves out of home have often experienced a long process of social exclusion. Many have experienced personal and family problems, alcohol or drug problems, behavioural problems or a combination of these factors. Often they will have dropped out of the school system.
In general when homeless young people come to the attention of a health board, every effort is made to reunite them with their family or to arrange to have them placed in foster care or residential care as appropriate. Social work support, advice, information and counselling to include counselling for families and individuals is offered.
Because homelessness is a process, the best intervention is early intervention. At health board level an integrated range of measures is being developed to prevent problems such as homelessness arising in the first place. These include: early intervention to prevent children and young people at risk from becoming homeless, including family support work and 12 pilot family support projects which are approved by the Cabinet Committee on Social Exclusion and funded by the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund; greater provision of services for families and young people in the community, including neighbourhood youth projects and family centres; provision of suitable and varied accommodation and back up services for the young homeless; and accommodation and support services for children leaving care.
The Government is committed to addressing social exclusion in the context of Partnership 2000 and the Government's An Action Programme for the Millennium. The establishement of the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion, which is chaired by the Taoiseach, reflects the Government's commitment to this issue and provides the opportunity to deal with the relevant issues in a holistic manner by co-ordinating the actions of the relevant Departments.
A Forum on Youth Homelessness has been established in the Eastern Health Board region with representation from the key voluntary organisations, Dublin Corporation and the Eastern Health Board. Its purpose is to agree the parameters of the problem and to agree a way forward.
