Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 January 2024
360. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the oversight applied to the third parties who manage emergency accommodation centres on behalf of local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2863/24]
View answerMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities.
To assist in ensuring that homeless services provided are of a high standard, a National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF) was developed by the DRHE in partnership with the NGO Sector, the HSE, and other key stakeholders. The standards framework is now in place nationally for all local authority and NGO services.
Given the increase in contracting private accommodation exclusively for the use of homeless households and to ensure standards in these facilities, the DRHE adapted the NQSF standards to apply their provisions to private emergency accommodation.
The standards contained in “Quality Standards for Private Emergency Accommodation” have been developed with regard to the different service models in Private Emergency Accommodation i.e. different entities providing the facility and the supports. As was the case with the roll-out of the NQSF to NGO services, a developmental approach to the roll out of the standards is being taken.
It is a matter for local authorities to monitor standards. The ultimate aim is to ensure that standards are being applied and monitored across all facilities, irrespective of whether they are NGO or privately operated. In Dublin, an in-house standards team monitor compliance with the NQSF for NGO facilities under the service level agreements in place. These include checks on the physical standards, occupancy, supports and hygiene. The DRHE has also appointed an officer to begin the roll out of monitoring of standards in Private Emergency Accommodation (PEA) facilities.
The DRHE, following a competitive tender process, appointed an independent inspectorate to carry out inspections on DRHE services. The most recent inspection reports are available for review on the DHRE website at www.homelessdublin.ie/quality-standards/test2
