Government rejects homeless claims

The Government today rejected claims it was not doing enough to help homeless people and said the issue had always been a top priority.

Officials said €50m had been invested in homeless accommodation and related projects in Ireland this year.

It came after the Simon Community claimed its workers had not been adequately funded by the State.

The group’s chief executive Greg Maxwell challenged Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to fulfil his commitments in tackling the “crisis“.

He said: “Exactly three years ago the Government launched a national homelessness strategy in response to what they admitted was a crisis situation.

“Today the crisis remains but the Government promises that funding would not be an issue are sounding very hollow.”

The Simon Community’s annual report revealed that the number of new people in contact with its workers rose from 37 during the first three months of 2002 to 110 for the same period this year.

Mr Maxwell added: “With sufficient political priority the homelessness crisis could be reversed and thousands of people’s lives drastically improved.”

But Dublin TD John Curran said the issue had always been a top priority for the Government.

He said: “Dublin’s Simon Community specifically was allocated €1.6m for its homeless accommodation and related programmes which is an increase of 11% on last year.

“The organisation’s annual report today reveals a rise in the number of homeless people in Dublin.

“While this is worrying and disappointing this Government will continue to invest heavily in homeless projects to ensure homeless people receive the assistance they are entitled to.”

He added: “I will be urging the Minister for the Environment to consider establishing a dedicated Information Centre in Dublin specifically targeting returning emigrants and their needs.”

The Simon Community’s Outreach service was expanded last year, and now consists of 12 full-time workers and more than 100 volunteers.