Seán Haughey
Ceist:507 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health and Children the measures he has taken since 1997 to deal with homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1328/02]
Vol. 547 No. 1
507 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health and Children the measures he has taken since 1997 to deal with homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1328/02]
The cross-departmental team, chaired by the Department of the Environment and Local Government, was established in September 1998. My Department is represented on this team, whose purpose is to develop an integrated response to the many issues which affect homeless people, such as emergency, transitional and long-term accommodation, health, education, employment and home-making. The report of the Cross-Departmental Team on Homelessness – An Integrated Strategy, was published in May 2000 and is currently being implemented by my Department, the Department of the Environment and Local Government and the other Departments concerned. The main elements of the strategy are the establishment of a homeless forum in every city and county and the preparation of three year action plans by the local authorities and health boards, together with the voluntary bodies. It is my understanding that the work of the homeless fora is at an advanced stage, with many of the action plans either complete or nearing completion.
The main difficulty in relation to adult homelessness has been in the Dublin area and in order to address this, the Eastern Regional Health Authority has appointed a director of homelessness who is working closely with the three area health boards in implementing the strategy Homelessness – An Integrated Strategy.
Specifically, the work of the three area health boards includes: the appointment of area co-ordinators who will be responsible for the implementation of the health and care aspects of the plan; better take up of medical cards for those who are homeless; the establishment of two multidisciplinary teams whose composition include nurses, doctors, community welfare officers, social workers, care attendants, community psychiatric nurses and outreach drug workers who will connect with and support homeless people quickly and effectively and link into mainstream services; the provision of a dedicated dental service for homeless people; improved discharge procedures for people who are homeless; improved mental health services for people who are homeless and improved access to addiction services for homeless people including those who have alcohol problems. The action plan detailing the work in the above areas includes timescales for each of the main work areas.
Another key element of the strategy is the commitment that the Departments of Health and Children, Education and Science and Justice, Equality and Law Reform each have institutions under their aegis and each will develop and publish strategies to prevent homelessness amongst those at risk, leaving institutional care. My Department's preventative strategy is now complete and is due to be published shortly by the Department of the Environment and Local Government.