Seanad report:Renewing his call for a debate on homelessness, Paschal Donohoe (FG) said there was no more distressing sight than walking across the city of Dublin and seeing people who were inebriated or who had drugs problems.
"You have prams with young people in them. What hope do these children have and how can our society help and intervene, given that, unfortunately, their parents may not be able to do this?"
Mr Donohoe said that last week he had raised the issue of a centre designed to deal with this issue but which would be vacant this summer because the HSE could not provide the necessary funding. "We are letting ourselves and the city down by not dealing with that."
Ivor Callely (FF) said he recently received a letter from the city manager confirming to him that he was satisfied that he had a bed for every person who was homeless in the city but they were not being utilised.
"I concur with the view that we should have a debate on the issue and the appropriate players, the HSE and Dublin City Council, should be invited here to consider how we can ensure better co- ordination and collation of the services available which are not being utilised."
Mr Callely said great work was being done with vulnerable people with addiction problems and so-called "wet houses" had been opened to try to accommodate them but they were complex issues. He paid tribute to the people involved in the services, particularly the outreach workers on the street. Excellent work was being done in this area and it was important that the House would record it.