Vol. 527 No. 3
117 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to newspaper reports (details supplied) that in excess of 60% of London's homeless are of Irish extraction; if he has made efforts to have these persons traced and named; the assistance he will make available to them in order that their life situation might be improved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28302/00]
The Simon Community every six months counts the number of homeless people sleeping rough on the streets of London. On 11 November 2000 it was found that there were 316 such people in the inner London boroughs of Camden, City of London, Haringey, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster. It is important to note that the nationalities of the people concerned were not systematically recorded and that the suggestion in the Irish newspaper article mentioned by the Deputy that "more than 60% of London's homeless are Irish" is based on an uncorroborated statement about the count made by a member of the Simon Community. The director of the Simon Community in Britain has since informed the Irish Embassy in London that in his view it would be more accurate to say that at least one-third of the homeless people in inner London are Irish. According to statistics by ethnic group for the year ended 31 March 1999 compiled by the Housing Services Agency, an official body which provides resettlement services for homeless people in London, 11% of people sleeping on the streets of greater London were Irish.
Social reasons connected to their domestic situations in Ireland account for why many young Irish people are homeless in London. In addition, too many of them still go to London and other cities in Britain inadequately prepared. The Government and voluntary organisations in Ireland are doing what they can to assist intending migrants in this regard. The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs supports voluntary groups such as emigrant advice who give pre-departure advice and information. FÁS, the training and employment authority, makes available comprehensive information about coping with problems of living and working abroad.
Out of respect for their privacy, it would not be appropriate to ask voluntary or official bodies to reveal the identities of homeless Irish people they assist.
The Irish Government is committed to taking further steps to address the problem of homelessness among recently arrived Irish immigrants in Britain, especially in London. Through the DÍON Committee, based at the Embassy in London, the Irish Government has this year given grants amounting to £1,015,000 – an increase of over one-third on the funding provided in 1999 – from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment Vote to voluntary Irish organisations in Britain which advise and assist Irish people there, including groups which care for homeless Irish people. We intend to provide a further significant increase in funding next year.
