asked the Minister for the Environment if he will amend the Housing Acts to enable local housing authorities to provide adequately for homeless persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing of Homeless.
19.
When moving the Second Reading of the Housing Bill, 1983, in the House on 14 December 1983, I stated my intention to proceed as quickly as possible with a fundamental review of the provisions of the Housing Act, 1966, governing the provision and letting of local authority houses and with the formulation of new legislative proposals within which the question of homelessness might be more effectively tackled. In the meantime, I would point out that present housing legislation gives wide powers to housing authorities to enable them to ensure that housing accommodation can be allocated to any person whose circumstances warrant it and who cannot provide it from his own resources.
Is the Minister aware that some local authorities do not accept applications for accommodation from homeless persons and refer them to the local health authority? Would the Minister comment on that practice?
The attitude of local authorities in different areas varies and I agree with the Deputy that a review of the 1966 Act is necessary. I intend to proceed with a revision of the Act as quickly as possible, taking into account the points made by the Deputy on the Bill which has just gone through the House.
The Minister has not explained why some local authorities are empowered to interpret the Act differently in as much as they are not accepting that they have any responsibility for the housing of homeless people, which they have.
Local authorities are made up of elected members. It is for those members to point out to the staff where this is happening, if they disagree with the practice in those authorities, that they want to see schemes carried out in a different manner. If local authority staff refuse to carry out the present arrangements, as happens in many local authorities where homeless people are considered, then the review which I intend to set in motion and which will consider this point is more than necessary. When the review is completed I intend to bring in legislation, I hope later in this session.
We have been waiting quite a while for this and we may have to wait a further period before it comes into operation. Would the Minister instruct the county managers to interpret the Housing Act in such a way as to provide for homeless people and to remove the discrepancies which exist at present where some local authorities are interpreting it one way and others are interpreting it another way. Surely a direction from the Minister is called for in the interim until we see the legislation?
What I should do is find out from each county manager what way he is interpreting the 1966 Act. If there are exclusions, rather than issue a blanket instruction to every local authority who may be carrying out their duties in a more humane manner, and if I find this is happening, I shall ask them to interpret the legislation as it is being interpreted in many local authorities.
Would the Minister agree that many local authorities are curtailed because they work within the Department's directives and regulations? Would it not be better if the councils were given more autonomy and discretion, instead of tying their hands in this way, such as ensuring that a housing applicant has a certain number of points before he can qualify for a house?
We all agree that the best answer to this problem is to build more local authority houses and I hope this will be done this year and in future years. The point raised by the Deputy will be considered as part of a review of local authority functions which will take place this year and which I will bring before the House for consideration as quickly as possible.