Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 23 Oct 2003

Vol. 573 No. 2

Other Questions. - FÁS Training Programmes.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

9 Mr. Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the outcome of the FÁS assessment of the skills and training needs of homeless persons and the appointment of persons to work with homeless services in Dublin as committed to in Homelessness - An Integrated Strategy; the progress which has been made in providing FÁS drop-in services through homeless services centres, developing a monitoring service for potential clients, and the provision of specific LES mediators to assist clients in accessing services, as outlined in Homelessness - An Integrated Strategy; the communication strategy committed to in Homelessness - An Integrated Strategy to ensure that the attention of people who are homeless is drawn to their entitlements and opportunities available; and the way in which literacy skills have been integrated to forms of vocational training offered by FÁS, as committed to in Homelessness - An Integrated Strategy. [24503/03]

Mr. Fahey:

Approximately 30 FÁS projects are either fully or partially engaged in providing services and supports for homeless people. Of these, 14 projects are located in Dublin. Most of the Dublin projects are located in central areas in the city. The services provided by the projects include: accommodation services; advisory services; rehabilitative and personal development services; counselling and other support services; food preparation and distribution; clothes distribution; and charity shops. The services that these projects deliver represent a substantial commitment by FÁS to addressing the needs of homeless people. FÁS has engaged with the cross-departmental team on homelessness and the Homeless Agency. Senior staff members from FÁS have been active as representatives on both bodies.

In this regard FÁS has provided a full outline of its training, employment and community services and supports to a group of homeless service providers at a briefing in the Homeless Agency on 9 July 2003. This was designed to inform homeless service providers on the range and type of programmes provided by FÁS, including information on how FÁS programmes can be accessed by homeless people and to explore ways in which service providers could advocate with FÁS on behalf of homeless people. Service providers were advised that FÁS employment services in central Dublin would act as advocates for their homeless clients in their interaction with FÁS employment services offices that act as the point of access to all FÁS services. FÁS has reached agreement with the cross-departmental team on homelessness and the Homeless Agency that this method of service operation is the most appropriate way to meeting its commitments under the integrated strategy for homelessness. In addition, FÁS has initiated discussions with the Homeless Agency on future joint briefing workshops and other co-operative initiatives aimed at assisting homeless service providers in accessing the full range of FÁS services for its clients.

Mr. Howlin:

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Will he accept that Homelessness – An Integrated Strategy, was introduced in May 2000 following a doubling in the official homelessness figures? Will he further accept that there is a lack of monitoring and evaluation of progress under the scheme? What specific measures does he intend to put in place to ensure that the commitments in the scheme are monitored and to whom does he intend providing the data in terms of reporting progress on the initiative?

Mr. Fahey:

I appreciate the point made by the Deputy. We are most anxious to ensure that there is a greater response by FÁS to the homelessness issue. There is a need for greater integration of services across a number of departments. I do not disagree with the point made by the Deputy.