Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 4 Nov 2003

Vol. 573 No. 3

Written Answers. - Homeless Persons.

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

629 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the most recent figures for the number of homeless people in the State; the way in which this information was gathered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24912/03]

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

The most recent comprehensive information available on the number of homeless people in the State was complied as part of the triennial assessment of housing needs carried out in March 2002 by local authorities. These statistics were published in the Departments annual housing statistics bulletin in December 2002, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library.

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

630 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the number of homeless people housed in bed and breakfast accommodation in 2002; the number of people currently housed in bed and breakfast accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24913/03]

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

631 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if his Department reviews the standard of accommodation provided to homeless people who are housed in bed and breakfast accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24914/03]

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

632 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if his Department has received complaints regarding the conduct of those providing bed and breakfast accommodation on behalf of the State for homeless people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24915/03]

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

633 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the amount spent on the provision of bed and breakfast accommodation for homeless people in each of the past six years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24916/03]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 630 to 633, inclusive, together.

The provision of accommodation for homeless persons is the responsibility of local housing authorities and one in which my Department has no direct function. It is, therefore, a matter for individual authorities to determine the level of bed and breakfast accommodation to be provided, having regard to the need for such accommodation within their areas. As the nature of the use of this type of accommodation is demand led and can vary from day to day, information on the number of persons so housed nationwide at any point in time is not readily available in my Department.

The monitoring of the standard of bed and breakfast accommodation is also a matter for the local authorities and it is their responsibility to ensure that premises are inspected regularly to ensure,inter alia, that they comply with the relevant health and safety and environmental standards. I understand that the standards of such accommodation have improved significantly in recent years, particularly in the larger urban areas with most now involving unrestricted access to residents, 24 hour security and a limit on the number of bed spaces. I am not aware of complaints in connection with the conduct of those charged with the management and organisation or the owners of these units of accommodation. It is a matter for individual housing authorities to ensure that there are appropriate and adequate procedures in place in order that both resident and owner are aware of their respective rights and duties in this regard.

While the use of bed and breakfast accommodation is seen, at present, as essential for the provision of emergency accommodation, it is recognised that it is not suitable as a long-term solution to homeless accommodation and that its use should be phased out, particularly for families. I am concerned to ensure that high standards prevail in the operation of the sector and that it is used only as a short – term response to homelessness. At the request of my Department, Dublin City Council, which is a major user of bed and breakfast accommodation, and the Homeless Agency are conducting an ongoing review of this type of accommodation. This has led to increased monitoring, improved co-ordination and better management practice within the Dublin area. Further rationalisation is needed and the council is continuing to address the issue in order that continuous improvement of services will be offered to those whose needs dictate that it is the most suitable type of accommodation for them at a particular point in time.

Under section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 my Department recoups to local authorities 90% of their expenditure on the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons. The breakdown of expenditure sought is not readily available except in the case of Dublin City Council, which normally contracts with a number of landlords for the supply of bed and breakfast information. The information available from 2001 onwards shows that recoupment in this area to the city council was €13.4 million in 2001, €15.1 million in 2002 and, to date in 2003, €11.6 million. Systems are, however, being put in place to ensure, with effect from the beginning of 2004, a more comprehensive breakdown of recoupment related information for the country as a whole.

Arthur Morgan

Ceist:

634 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the amount spent by the Government and local authorities on the provision of housing specifically for homeless people in each of the past six years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24917/03]

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

Local authorities provide accommodation for homeless persons as part of their social housing programmes, which are funded from their annual capital allocations from my Department. In addition, the voluntary housing sector also provides accommodation specifically for homeless persons. In this context available and suitable units of accommodation are provided for persons who have been assessed as homeless. Separate figures are not yet available to my Department on capital expenditure in providing dwellings for the homeless. However, I anticipate that my Department will be able to meet all capital funding requirements for local authority homeless projects in 2003.

Current funding to assist towards the provision of accommodation for homeless persons, generally by voluntary housing bodies, was increased from €4.4 million in 1997 to €43 million in 2002. Hostel and other accommodation is also provided by voluntary bodies with capital funding provided under the capital assistance and loan subsidy schemes operated by my Department. In the period 1997 to date, some 1,340 units of accommodation for homeless persons have been approved under the capital assistance scheme. Additional funding is also being made available by the Department of Health and Children to fund the provision of in-house care in hostels providing accommodation for homeless persons.