asked the Minister for Health the number of specific places provided by each health board for homeless persons; and the amount of money spent by each health board to accommodate people who are in urgent need of accommodation.

As the reply is in the form of tabular statements, I propose to circulate them with the Official Report.

Places

1. The total numbers of places provided for homeless people by health boards directly and by voluntary and religious agencies are as follows:

2. The numbers of places provided directly by health boards in their own institutions are as follows:

Expenditure

The cost to health boards for accommodating homeless people are as follows:

In addition to grant aid to voluntary agencies under section 65 of the Health Act, 1953, shelter and maintenance may be provided — in emergencies or where no other accommodation is available — in bed-and-breakfast establishments. This would normally be paid for through supplementary welfare allowance funds. It is not possible for health boards to isolate the percentage of supplementary welfare moneys which go towards providing this accommodation.

Health boards also assist agencies which provide accommodation for homeless people through subsidies towards meals, provision of laundry facilities and cleaning materials as well as through grants towards running costs, staff salaries and capitation payments.

Is the Minister satisfied that there is no great variation between the different health boards?

There are variations, yes. There are what one might describe as large variations.

Is the Minister satisfied that each health board are fulfilling their obligations to the homeless?

I suppose, as long as there are homeless people, we would not be satisfied that they are fulfilling their obligations.