A seminar in Galway city was told yesterday that the arrests of homeless street drinkers for petty offences costs the State a vast amount of money each year and there was a great need for an alternative inter-agency approach in dealing with these people.
The Galway Simon Community seminar "Homeless Street Drinkers" heard there was a need for inter-agency co-operation between the gardai, the health boards, voluntary organisations and front line service providers.
The agency also said homeless street drinkers in Galway would be unfairly penalised by new bylaws on alcohol consumption.
The proposed by-laws, which ban consumption of alcohol or intoxicating liquor in a public place within the city boundaries, "could push the homeless drinker underground". The by-laws propose that where an authorised person or member of the Garda Siochana suspects an offence has been, or is being, committed, he or she can confiscate or seize any bottle or container which contains alcohol, without warrant. Any person who is found guilty of an offence is liable to a fine not exceeding £100 on summary conviction.
"Public places" include any footpath, footway or road, any part of the foreshore and any coastal area, any outdoor area or other place to which members of the public have, or are permitted to have, access.
Supt Tony Finnerty told the seminar the majority of homeless street drinkers who were arrested were charged with minor offences but the cost to the State of processing these cases through the criminal justice system was enormous.
A six month analysis of homeless people arrested at Mill Street Garda station in Galway city from March to September of this year revealed that of the 72 homeless persons arrested, 89 per cent were male and 11 per cent female. More than half were arrested for public order offences, 15 per cent on larceny offences, 8 per cent on criminal damage charges and small numbers of arrests were for offences such as robbery, burglary and assault.
Supt Finnerty said the cost of processing one person through the criminal justice system was £276, between Garda time (£110), solicitor fees (£141) and court staff costs (£25).
The cost of escorting a prisoner from Galway courthouse to Mountjoy Prison was an additional £350, he said, and once there it cost the State £112 to keep a prisoner there each day. A second appearance in court cost an average of £100.
He described the benefits of an inter-agency approach in dealing with homeless street drinkers: "It would offer a better service to the homeless and would lead to less frustration or duplication for service providers. It would mean a better use of resources and improved access to resources."
He made a number of other recommendations including the establishment of a forum for front line service providers, a single point of contact for the homeless, the publication of information leaflets and a study to identify service gaps.
The need for supported housing for homeless street drinkers was highlighted by Mr Myles Murphy, supervisor of the Fairgreen Hostel for homeless men in Galway, who also called for the funding of a health and well-being assessment and a care package for people in this position.
Others speakers at the seminar included Ms Lynda Friemanis of the London Street Drinkers Network; Mr Gerry Kelly, Director of Derry North and West Housing; Mr Ciaran Hayes, Housing officer with Galway Corporation, and Sister Consilio Fitzgerald of the Cuan Mhuire Rehabilitation Centre in Galway.