Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:440. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the report into the deaths of persons experiencing homelessness. [21321/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 28 April 2021
Ceisteanna (440, 477, 478)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:477. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of homeless persons that have died in Dublin to date in 2021. [21734/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraPeadar Tóibín
Ceist:478. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons that have died while homeless in Dublin in each of the past five years. [21735/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 440, 477 and 478 together.
There have been a number of deaths, in recent months, of people who had been sleeping rough or accessing homeless services. Each of these deaths is a tragedy and I extend my sympathies to the families concerned. The deaths of people availing of homeless services are a concern and are being taken very seriously. It is important that we establish the facts concerning the circumstances involved, and that we base our response on the best knowledge and evidence available. In order to better understand the issue, two separate pieces of research are being undertaken, each with a different focus.
A review of homeless deaths is being undertaken on behalf of the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) and the HSE by Dr. Austin O'Carroll, the Clinical Lead for Covid-19 and Homelessness in Dublin. This review is due for completion in the coming weeks and aims to analyse the data concerning deaths in homeless services for 2020 to identify learning for homeless and health services that could help tailor the provision of care to homeless people.
While my Department does not collate the data requested, a feasibility study on data collection of homeless deaths nationally is being undertaken by the Health Research Board on behalf of the Department of Health. This is due to be completed by the end of 2021. The research is applying the methodology used to compile the National Drug Related Deaths Index, which is a census of drug-related deaths and deaths among drug users and those who are alcohol dependent in Ireland. The data collection for 2019 deaths, including deaths among people who were homeless, is reviewing approximately 17,000 files from all Coroner districts.