97 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will report on the incidence of homelessness in the major cities; and the policy proposals, if any, being pursued by his Department to ease the plight of the homeless. [27288/98]

132 Mr. Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself with the role his Department plays in addressing the problem of homelessness; the steps, if any, he has taken to deal with the problem; and the future plans, if any, he has in this regard. [1968/99]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 132 together.

The compilation of data on adult homelessness is a matter for the Department of the Environment and Local Government.

The nature and extent of the problem of homeless young people varies between health boards and between community care areas. Because of the transient nature of the problem and the transient lifestyle of some young people it is difficult to estimate the number of homeless young people throughout Ireland and in particular on a city by city basis. It is recognised that the problem of homeless children/young people is most acute in the Eastern Health Board region followed by the Southern Health Board region. In 1998, an average of eight young people per night presented to the social work service operating outside normal office hours and the Eastern Health Board estimates that 400 young people are out of home in the region each year. In the Southern Health Board 115 referrals were made during 1998.

In general, when homeless children and young people come to the attention of a health board, every effort is made to reunite them with their family or to arrange to have them placed in foster care or residential care as appropriate. Social work support, advice, information, financial support and counselling to include counselling and mediation for families and individuals is offered.