Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 April 2008
85 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the plans in place to develop services and implement the Government strategy to end homelessness by 2010; if these plans have been put on hold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12120/08]
View answer95 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his updated plans, in conjunction with other Departments, to meet the Government’s commitment outlined in the social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, to eliminate homelessness by 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12460/08]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 95 together.
Reflecting the Government's commitment to tackling homelessness, a revised strategy on adult homelessness is currently being finalised. The new strategy will amalgamate and update the Integrated Strategy on Homelessness (2000) and the Homeless Preventative Strategy (2002), and will build on the recommendations of the independent "Review of the Implementation of Homeless Strategies" commissioned by my Department. Reflecting commitments in Towards 2016 and the Programme for Government, the core objective of the new strategy will be the elimination, by 2010, of long-term occupation of emergency homeless accommodation (i.e. longer than 6 months) and the need to sleep rough.
The revised Government strategy has been developed under the aegis of the Cross-Department Team on Homelessness, which is chaired by my Department. It has received input from the National Homeless Consultative Committee, which includes representatives of both voluntary and statutory bodies dealing with homelessness. It has also been subject to Health and Poverty Impact Assessments, both of which included a robust consultation process with relevant parties. I expect to publish the strategy next month.
