Seán Haughey
Ceist:777 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the measures being taken to tackle homelessness in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1125/01]
Written Answers. - Homeless Persons.
Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:837 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the financial and other resources currently available to tackle homelessness in Dublin; if he will outline the scale of the problem; and the plans he has to tackle it. [1813/01]
Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:856 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason the number of rough sleepers in central Dublin is more than two thirds of the number in central London while rough sleeping in London has fallen from 1,200 people in 1991 to its present level of 302 and the numbers in Dublin have been steadily increasing. [2332/01]
Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:858 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason Dublin has more people sleeping rough than Oxford, Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham and Liverpool combined; the action he is taking to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2334/01]
Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:862 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are 1,950 single homeless people in the Dublin Corporation area; the resources available at national level to deal with this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2486/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 777, 837, 856, 858 and 862 together.
Last May I launched the Government's integrated strategy on homelessness, which outlines a new approach to the way in which services for the homeless are to be planned, funded and provided. As part of the strategy, local authorities have established homeless fora, where they were not already in place, and are in the process of developing three year action plans, jointly with the health boards and voluntary bodies. These action plans will set out clear aims and actions on how accommodation, health, settlement and welfare services will be provided to homeless persons by all of the agencies involved.
The most recent assessment of housing needs, which was undertaken in March 1999, indicated that there were 3,918 homeless persons in the wider Dublin area. It must be emphasised, however, that while they are classified as homeless the vast majority are not sleeping rough on the streets. Some are in hostels, some are in bed and breakfast accommodation and some are staying with parents or friends. Figures published recently by Simon and Outreach suggested an increase in the number of people sleeping rough in Dublin city centre. However, there was a degree of selectivity in the data published. The published figures indicated results of counts of homeless persons sleeping rough for 1997, 1998 and 2000 but omitted the 1999 results. Moreover, the figures for 1997 and 1998 appear to have been understated. Had the 1999 figures been included in the comparison, it would have revealed a significant reduction in the number of homeless persons sleeping rough in the city centre, from 261 in 1999 to 202 in 2000. Leaving aside the issue of statistics, I am concerned that even one person should be homeless and forced to sleep on the streets of Dublin or anywhere else.
The homeless strategy also calls for additional night-time services to be provided for homeless persons, particularly in Dublin. As part of the action plan for Dublin, which is currently being considered by the housing strategic policy committees of the four Dublin authorities, additional facilities and emergency accommodation will be provided for rough sleepers. The Government has made substantial current and capital funding available to ensure that the measures outlined in the strategy are implemented. Capital spending by local authorities on accommodation for homeless is to be doubled from £20 million to £40 million over five years. An extra £6 million per annum in current funding will be available from my Department to fund voluntary bodies, to increase payments for the provision of hostel accommodation and to establish settlement and outreach services. Additional funding will also be available from health boards to fund care and welfare requirements. Voluntary bodies will also continue to provide additional accommodation for homeless persons under the voluntary housing scheme operated by my Department.
A special allocation of £5 million over the years 2000 and 2001 was made in Budget 2000 specifically for the provision of two high support hostels for homeless people suffering from drug and alcohol addictions. Dublin Corporation, in co-operation with other agencies, are hopeful that suitable premises will be sourced shortly.