Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 1 Jul 2003

Vol. 570 No. 2

Written Answers. - Homeless Persons.

John Perry

Ceist:

486 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the exact use for the proposed facility at 3 Lyon's Place, Sligo; the amount of money that has been allocated to the centre; if he will report on the negotiation that has taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18445/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell):

The premises referred to by the Deputy was purchased by a local voluntary body with funding provided by the Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government as part of an initiative which aims to meet an important social need in providing semi-supported accommodation for a small number of persons, who are homeless or who are at risk from homelessness. The project is in line with current Government policy on homelessness and social inclusion as well as with the recommendations of the National Economic and Social Forum report on the re-integration of prisoners.

In addition to general accommodation support, the project provides access to programmes aimed at addressing health and addiction issues, education, life-skills and personal development, preparation for training and employment and resolution of offending related issues. Referrals to the facility are made through the Probation and Welfare Service and applications are assessed to establish an individual's suitability before a place is offered at the facility. I have also been advised that the premises will be permanently staffed and that residents will be supervised by the probation and welfare service and subject to an agreed contract.

Planning permission for the facility was applied for and granted with the knowledge of both public representatives and the local community. It is of course the reality that locating a facility of this type anywhere in the country always has the potential to cause concern to some members of the local community. However, it should also be pointed out that this particular initiative has the support of many local public representatives, statutory bodies, as well as other individuals and groups in the area. The proposal to open the facility was discussed at the Sligo Homeless Forum and incorporated into their own plan for the homeless. It has also been referred to in the county development plan. Meetings to discuss the project took place with local residents in 2001 and again recently in an effort to allay any concerns. I would like to further advise the Deputy that the project manager and a senior official from the probation and welfare service recently met with the principal of the local school and a representative of the school's board of management to discuss the project.

My Department, through the probation and welfare service, provided €29,079.35 towards the capital cost of refurbishing the building and is currently providing a total of €350,000 per annum towards the costs associated with running the project on a two-year pilot phase.