Vol. 540 No. 1
326 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of hostels for the homeless which received funding from his Department over each of the past five years; the areas where such hostels are situated; if he has satisfied himself that the number of beds available meets the demand for such beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19873/01]
Last year, 66 hostels for homeless persons received funding from local authorities and a list of the areas where they are located follows. My Department does not have a breakdown of this information for previous years. Expenditure by local authorities in funding hostels for homeless persons is 90% recouped by my Department.
While there are a significant number of hostel beds available throughout the country, the Government's integrated strategy on homelessness, was launched last year recognised the lack of transitional and long-term accommodation for homeless persons as a problem. Many homeless persons have been resident in hostels for long periods of time due to the lack of more suitable alternative accommodation.
As part of the strategy, local authorities, in conjunction with health boards and voluntary bodies, are now drawing up three year local action plans to tackle homelessness. The provision of transitional and long-term accommodation, to enable homeless persons move out of hostel accommodation, and thereby free up hostel spaces, will be a major element of these plans. The plans for Dublin, Limerick and Cork have been completed and work is well under way on finalising plans for other areas. To enable this additional accommodation to be provided, capital spending by local authorities on accommodation for homeless persons is to be doubled from £20 million to £40 million over the five years 2001-06 and voluntary bodies will also continue to provide additional accommodation for homeless persons under the voluntary housing schemes operated by my Department.
Following is a table showing the location of homeless persons' hostels in receipt of funding from local authorities, 2000.
|
Local authority |
Number of Hostels |
|
Cork Corporation |
10 |
|
Dublin Corporation |
26 |
|
Galway Corporation |
4 |
|
Limerick Corporation |
4 |
|
Waterford Corporation |
4 |
|
Carlow County Council |
1 |
|
Local authority |
Number of Hostels |
|
Donegal County Council |
1 |
|
Galway County Council |
1 |
|
Kildare County Council |
2 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
1 |
|
Mayo County Council |
1 |
|
Clonmel Corporation |
1 |
|
Dundalk UDC |
2 |
|
Drogheda Corporation |
2 |
|
Longford UDC |
1 |
|
Sligo Corporation |
3 |
|
Wexford Corporation |
2 |
328 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the number of persons who declared themselves homeless to each local authority for the years 1999 and 2000; the total cost to each local authority in dealing with each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19875/01]
Information on the number of people who declare themselves homeless is not available in my Department. According to the most recent assessment of housing needs, which took place in March 1999, there were 5,234 homeless persons in the country. The next assessment of housing needs, which will also establish the up to date position on the extent of homelessness, is due to take place in March 2002.
My Department recouped a total of £9.95 million in 1999 and £12.47 million in 2000 to local authorities in respect of costs incurred in providing emergency and sheltered accommodation for homeless persons. This represents a 90% recoupment level of local authority expenditure on accommodation for homeless persons.
