Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 February 2004
185 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if it is the Government's intention to place homeless strategies on a statutory basis; if not, the reasons for his decision not to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2971/04]
View answer
The Government's integrated and preventative homeless strategies are designed to provide a practical and flexible framework for the planning and delivery of services and support for homeless persons. It does not, therefore, seem useful or appropriate to give them statutory status at this stage. The implementation of the homeless strategies is carried out at local level through the homeless action plans drawn up by local authorities under the aegis of the local homeless fora. The strategies and their accompanying homeless action plans will be considered in the process of the evaluation of the homeless strategies and action plans which will be initiated shortly.
