Homelessness Strategy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 July 2012

Thursday, 19 July 2012

Questions (520)

Sean Fleming

Question:

522 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will work with the Department for Social Protection to help prevent young people becoming homeless who have turned 18 years of age and are seeking to live independently from their parents’ home but have no permanent address and may in some cases only have a homeless shelter which is not suitable for making an application for housing as it is necessary in most cases to be on the approved housing list before one can obtain payment from the Department of Social Protection in relation to a supplementary welfare payment for accommodation as the income they would receive from the Department of Social Protection would not be sufficient to cover accommodation as well as living; if he will take steps to prevent people in this category becoming homeless; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36519/12]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

I refer to the reply to Question No. 468 17 July 2012.

The Programme for Government committed to reviewing the national homelessness strategy and to implementing a housing led approach to homelessness. The draft of the review report is being considered by my Department and was presented recently to the Cross Departmental Team on Homelessness, which includes a representative from the Department of Social Protection, and the Homeless Consultative Committee for consultation. The review will take account of demands on existing housing and will assess how best to continue providing services in a manner consistent with the elimination of existing homelessness and to ensure more effective prevention strategies. On its conclusion, I will be indicating what I expect from housing authorities and other stakeholders in accelerating progress towards realising the ambition of eliminating involuntary long-term homelessness.

Question No. 523 answered with Question No. 483.