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Homelessness Strategy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 July 2013

Tuesday, 16 July 2013

Questions (65)

Michael Colreavy

Question:

65. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his position on the supports local authorities should provide fot those made homeless when their dwelling is condemned such as the families of Priory Hall, Dublin. [33782/13]

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Written answers

Local authorities are the designated authorities with powers to enforce the statutory requirements arising under the Fire Services, Building Control and Planning and Development legislation, all of which is at issue in Priory Hall and in other potential condemned dwellings. The local authorities are also the designated housing authority under the Housing Acts. Neither I nor my Department have a direct role or responsibility in relation to the exercise of these statutory responsibilities.

With regard to homelessness, my Department’s role involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the responsibillities of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and other services for homeless persons rests with the housing authorities.

Under the 1988 Housing Act a housing authority may consider an individual as homeless if there is no accommodation available that the individual can reasonably occupy and the individual is unable to provide accommodation from their own resources. Where the housing authority has deemed an individual as homeless, the housing authority may, under Section 10 of the Act, provide the individual with such assistance as the authority considers appropriate, including arranging lodgings or contributing to the cost of accommodation.

In the case of Priory Hall, I am aware of the significant efforts that have been made by Dublin City Council, with the assistance of my Department, to provide for the needs of residents to date and I understand that the Council will continue to work proactively on behalf of the residents towards achieving the much needed resolution of the issues at Priory Hall.

My Department has previously assisted Dublin City Council, in consultation with NAMA, in securing alternative temporary accommodation for many of the residents. In excess of €1.1 million has been contributed to date towards emergency accommodation costs and the costs necessarily incurred by Dublin City Council, in the context of a judgment of the High Court, in providing emergency and temporary accommodation for households evacuated from Priory Hall. Costs incurred accommodating evacuated residents from Priory Hall between October and December 2011 were considered appropriate for recoupment under the homelessness Section 10 funding arrangements and these amounted to €227,368. The remaining costs of €887,000 related to rehousing the social housing tenants, providing alternative accommodation for residents of privately owned apartments and other costs. The overriding priority in Priory Hall, and in any other potential cases, is to ensure the optimum outcome for the households concerned and to facilitate as early as possible a return to their homes. In this respect, it will be necessary to ensure that these homes are made fit for purpose and that the costs of so doing fall where they should. In the case of Priory Hall, I have specifically asked Dublin City Council to do all within its powers to achieve this objective and have asked my Department to continue to liaise closely with the City Council in this regard.

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