Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 16 Oct 2003

Vol. 572 No. 5

Adjournment Debate. - Homeless Persons.

Mr. Costello:

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher. Most people of my generation are acquainted with the problems of some members of the Irish diaspora in Britain. While some Irish people did well there, others did not. Many of the marginalised Irish people in Britain are becoming quite elderly. Some have succumbed to the problems of alcohol, drugs and homelessness. It is certain that a substantial number of Irish people who emigrated to Britain between the 1930s and the early 1990s have fallen on hard times.

Cricklewood Homeless Concern has been a great refuge and centre of comfort for many over the last 30 years. It was given to the Irish community in London by the Diocese of Westminster and used to provide assistance, in the form of various services, for Irish people who needed such help. A crisis has been reached in that regard, however, because the centre is up for sale. The diocese, which has deemed 31 December to be the deadline for the sale of the premises, has given the first option on it to the Irish community. A reasonable price of about £750,000 has been negotiated. The centre in Cricklewood does sterling work in accommodating approximately 700 or 800 people each year.

We recognise that we have a responsibility to those persons who went abroad from Ireland. Many of them retain close ties with this country but may not be in a position to fend for themselves as they might wish. The State should make a small financial contribution towards the purchase of the Cricklewood centre. Capital funding should be provided for the purchase and refurbishment of the building as a home and meeting place for Irish people in London. I ask the Minister of State to examine the desirability of supporting the Give Hope a Home campaign, which has been established to save the premises. The fact that those involved in the campaign are also seeking support from the city of London means that the Irish authorities are not being asked to provide all the funds. It is hoped the premises can be saved by means of a joint project.

I remind the Minister of State that the amount of money being requested is not large. The Government might not have to provide the full sum of £750,000. The amount being sought is small, given that it will provide a roof for homeless people and those who need to meet others and get some food on a regular basis. I reiterate the fact that those concerned are part of the Irish diaspora. I commend the proposal in the hope the Government will see fit to provide the necessary funding.

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. Gallagher):

I apologise on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Cowen, who is attending a European Council meeting in Brussels. He asked me to address the issue raised by Deputy Costello.

The Cricklewood Homeless Concern is a voluntary organisation which was set up in 1983 and offers day care and other care opportunities to homeless people and people in insecure housing in the north London borough of Brent and surrounding boroughs. In 2002, about 60% of the organisation's predominately male clients were Irish, 433 out of a total 705.

In 1983 the organisation was offered the use of 60 Ashford Road through the good offices of the local parish. The building in question is the property of the Catholic diocese of Westminster. Cricklewood Homeless Concern has had rent-free use of the property for almost 20 years. It is the location of the day care centre.

I understand that following a decision by the diocese to sell the building, the Cricklewood homeless centre was offered first refusal and negotiated a purchase price of £733,800 with the diocese. Repairs and modernisation of the building are estimated to cost in the region of £1 million. I also understand that, to date, the centre has raised £251,000 and that its business plan for the period 2002-07 expresses confidence that sources of funding for the balance of the project will be identified through a fundraising campaign. As part of this fundraising effort a public relations firm has been hired. Its business plan has also concluded that the purchase and retention of the existing building is the most effective and efficient option for Cricklewood Homeless Concern. The purchase of the building is scheduled to be completed by April 2004. The business plan envisages that the repairs and modernisation of the existing premises will be completed by September 2005.

The Díon committee is an advisory committee which makes recommendations to the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the allocation of grants from the Díon fund which comes under the Vote of the Department of Foreign Affairs. In 2003, 53 welfare agencies working with vulnerable members of the Irish community received grants of almost €2.3 million. Díon grants, in the main, support the employment of professional workers to provide advice as well as practical assistance to disadvantaged members of the Irish community in Britain. Cricklewood Homeless Concern has been supported by the Díon committee since at least 1989. From 1989 to 2002 the organisation received over €500,000 in funding from the Díon fund. In 2003 CHC received €67,634 to support the posts of director and a day care opportunities worker. A commitment was given to continue funding these posts for three years, subject to satisfactory annual progress reports. Building projects and the provision of accommodation are outside Díon criteria for funding. Cricklewood Homeless Concern has not directly approached the Díon committee to seek funding for this project.

The commitment to fund these posts for the next three years has been acknowledged by Cricklewood Homeless Concern as a great advantage, in that it has provided stability for the organisation. In its contacts with the Irish Embassy in London, it pointed out that this continuous funding from Díon will send a clear message to funders in the UK that Cricklewood Homeless Concern is worthwhile and credible as a needs-led charity providing valuable services to a large number of Irish people.

Reports of Cricklewood Homeless Concern's plans to acquire these premises appeared this week in the Irish Post. I understand that this was in the context of the launch of an appeal to readers to donate to the capital project. One article seemed to suggest that there are differences between Cricklewood Homeless Concern and the diocese of Westminster on the issue of the sale of the property. I understand from the embassy in London, which has been in touch with diocesan officials, that the diocese wishes to be as helpful as it can. Diocesan officials met with representatives of Cricklewood Homeless Concern last week and are more than willing to meet them again to discuss the situation. The Irish ambassador in London met a representative of the company which is spearheading the CHC fundraising efforts last month. He indicated that he would be happy to support any efforts of the CHC to raise funds.

On behalf of the Government, I wish to express our appreciation of the valuable contribution which Cricklewood Homeless Concern has made over the past 20 years and continues to make on behalf of homeless Irish people in London, some of the most marginalised people in society. The Government will continue to support this valu able work in every way it can. I thank Deputy Costello for raising the issue.

Mr. Costello:

Would the Government consider a small once-off capital investment to help the campaign?

Mr. Gallagher:

I understand that the ambassador and his officials are keeping in close contact with representatives of Cricklewood Homeless Concern. We want to be as helpful as we can. While I am aware of the good work it does, I am unable to make such a commitment.

Mr. Costello:

Will the Minister of State bring this request to the attention of the Minister?

Mr. Gallagher:

I certainly will.