asked the Minister for Health the arrangements he has made to replace the HOPE Hostel in Dublin; and the amount of extra money he has allocated in the current year for this purpose.

On 3 November I announced the setting up of a special task force to arrange for the establishment within one month of an alternative service to replace that which had been provided up to last April by the HOPE hostel. In my statement I also announced that whatever funding is required for the new service will be made available. Until I receive the report of the task force I am unable to state the amount of extra funds which I will be allocating to the new service.