My Department is committed to working with all of the relevant stakeholders to ensure the full implementation of the specific health aspects of the Implementation Plan on the State's Response to Homelessness. One of the core aims of the Implementation Plan is to improve access to Primary Care Services and ensure that effective discharge protocols are in place for homeless persons being discharged from Acute hospitals and Mental Health Facilities.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has provided about €15 million in direct funding on homeless services this year, to meet the health and in-house care needs of homeless people in the greater Dublin region. In-reach services and supports are provided by the HSE across a number of settings through an integrated, multi-disciplinary team model to ensure maximum access and improved service delivery, particularly in relation to primary care and mental health services. The HSE has assigned a senior manager to oversee the coordination of health services for homeless people in the Dublin region and also to ensure the provision of specialist in-reach services to emergency accommodation settings, where required.
The HSE is currently mapping all existing specialist health services in order to ensure adequate resources are available to in-reach into all Supported Temporary Accommodation and Temporary Emergency Accommodation. A draft suite of health outcomes for homeless persons is currently being developed which will provide a source of performance measurement pertaining to the provision of outreach and in-reach services.
