REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE OPENING OF THE REFURBISHED ST FRANCIS FÁILTIÚ FOOD CENTRE
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE OPENING OF THE REFURBISHED ST FRANCIS FÁILTIÚ FOOD CENTRE COOK ST, DUBLIN
Cuireann sé áthas ar mo chroí bheith anseo libh inniu. Go raibh maith agaibh as an chuireadh a thug sibh dom agus as fáilte fíorchaoin a chur romham.
I have great pleasure in being here today to officially open the refurbished Fáiltiú Food Centre. I would like to particularly thank Fr Gerry Raftery and everyone from the Franciscan Social Justice Initiatives for inviting me here today to witness the exceptional work of this centre.
In opening this Centre, it is important to recognise that this is simply the latest stage of 20 years of your work here on behalf of homeless people. From humble beginnings back in 1969, when cups of tea were provided for homeless people in the parlour of the Friary here, the St Francis Food Centre grew to providing meals for 100 people a day.
It showed great vision on the part of the Franciscan Social Services Initiative to recognise that the needs of the homeless extend beyond food and shelter. Being homeless so often means being excluded from a range of mainstream services that the rest of us can take for granted. Often, the homeless need assistance to access these basic services. It is equally important that they are given the hope of ultimately escaping the trap of homelessness, and that they receive assistance to do so. It was for this reason that the Fáiltiu Initiative was established to provide much needed information, advice, drop-in services and, crucially, a settlement support service for the homeless.
Bringing the Food Centre and Fáiltiu services together in this refurbished centre was the next logical step. It means that there is now a single point of contact, and ensures that that those availing of the meals here can also be encouraged to avail of the other services.
The fact that the Franciscan Fathers have been providing services for 20 years to homeless people highlights the fact that this is far from being a new problem. But it must be a cause of great concern, at this time of growing prosperity, that the need for facilities of this type is growing rather than diminishing. A recent ESRI report showed that last March, there were nearly 4,000 homeless people in Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare – of which almost 1,000 were dependent children. This is a human tragedy that we cannot afford to ignore. We have long taken pride in our tradition of being a generous and giving people. Our current affluence means that poverty is now less widespread than in past generations, but it also makes it easier for people to cocoon themselves against the despair and hopelessness around them, to close their eyes to it and pretend it does not exist. We are not yet at that point, thank God, but we must recognise and fight against that possibility. We cannot count ourselves a success unless all of our people have the means to live a life of hope and decency, and possess that most basic need of all – a home for themselves and their children.
The Franciscan Fathers are a shining example of that hope, that generosity, that spirit of Christian love and solidarity. Your work here symbolises your refusal to accept an attitude of helplessness or complacency. Your determination to change things for the better is underpinned by the gospel message of love, of hope, of charity, of recognising the image of God in all His children – especially the homeless. This centre is an outstanding example of how you have translated your mission into practical care and assistance for those in greatest need.
I know that your work here would not be possible without the assistance of a very dedicated and committed staff. I would like to pay tribute to all of them, especially Ann Marie Rogan, the Facility Leader. You have also been supported down through the years by many volunteers and fundraisers. All of those people should be very proud of what has been achieved here, for it is their caring and selflessness, their giving of themselves and their time with such generosity, that has made a very real difference to the lives of so many people.
I would also like to warmly commend Dublin Corporation, the Eastern Health Board and the Department of the Environment and Local Government for the support they have provided through the Homeless Initiative, both to this centre and many other voluntary groups. You deserve great credit for the progressive and imaginative approach you have taken, in partnership with the voluntary sector, in addressing the problem of homelessness.
I wish all of you here every success in your future work and I have great pleasure in officially opening this refurbished centre.
Go gcúití Dia bhur saothar daoibh. Go raibh maith agaibh.