The number of people from accession countries like Poland and Lithuania using the services of a Dublin charity such as food centres and night shelters has increased, a new report shows.
The Annual Report 2004 of Crosscare, a social care agency supporting people in the Dublin diocese, was launched yesterday by its patron, Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin, at Rutland Street School.
Dr Martin said Crosscare's activities included its services to emigrants and the "new Irish" as well as its traditional work. Services had been set up for the Polish and Lithuanian communities. There were many other communities from all over the world.
"I intend to make that an important part of our work so that people who come to these shores feel part of our community and know that their contribution is welcome," he said.
Crosscare director Fr Michael Cullen said there was concern at the marked increase in people from accession countries needing services and he had commissioned a study to establish how these people were faring.
They were picking up on the services like food centres and night shelters because they were totally unsupported.
"We need to take a closer look, and look at it in a quantitative way, so we can say look how legislation and society treats these people. We will do that. We hope to inform policy at a higher level," he said.
The report also showed that the number of teenagers presenting to the Teen Counselling service with self-harm problems, seen as a predictor of suicidal tendencies, has increased in Dublin.
There was a dramatic increase in the number of people availing of teenage counselling for a variety of reasons, including parents' separation, bereavement and family relationships. The total number availing of the service last year was 393, of whom 243 were new.
"The presenting issue of self-harm in clients is becoming a more common and serious aspect of adolescent work. It is considered as a predictor of suicidal ideation and as such must be taken seriously," the report stated.
Teen Counselling director Mary Forrest said: "The issue of young people presenting with self-harm is becoming a more common and serious aspect of adolescent work and requires considerable clinical time."