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Homeless Accommodation Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 June 2014

Tuesday, 17 June 2014

Questions (74, 95)

Question:

74. Deputy Ruth M. Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to continue a policy of funding the acquisition of centres for the homeless, rather than funding permanent homes for homeless families; and in one of these locations for the homeless (details supplied) in Dublin, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that conditions have resulted in health problems, such as viral infections for a number of residents, including three infants that were hospitalised. [25439/14]

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Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

95. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the short-term emergency measures and longer-term measures he is proposing to deal with the current homelessness and social housing crisis in view of the chronic shortage of affordable private rental accommodation, social housing and emergency accommodation; the way he will deal with these problems in cases involving families with children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25441/14]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 95 together.

My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities and the purposes for which housing authorities may incur expenditure in addressing homelessness are prescribed in Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988.

In February 2013, I published the Government's Homelessness Policy Statement in which the aim to end long-term homelessness by the end of 2016 was outlined. The statement emphasises a housing-led approach which is about accessing permanent housing as the primary response to all forms of homelessness. The availability and supply of secure, affordable and adequate housing is essential in ensuring sustainable tenancies and ending long-term homelessness.

On 20 May 2014, I published the Implementation Plan on the State's Response to Homelessness in which the Government's approach to delivery on its objective of ending involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016 was outlined. A copy of this plan is available on my Department's website http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/SpecialNeeds/HomelessPeople/.

This plan sets out a range of measures to secure a ring-fenced supply of accommodation to house homeless households within the next three years and mobilise the necessary supports. Progress in implementing the plan will be reported quarterly through the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy.

Under the funding arrangements, responsibility for rigorous assessment, appraisal and decision making in relation to proposals for funding of particular services within the current budgetary allocation rests with the homelessness statutory Management Group of the respective region. My Department has no function in regard to decisions on operational matters which, in the case of the property in question, are a matter for the Dublin Homelessness Management Group, with Dublin City County Council as the lead authority.

While it is clear that a proportion of funding must be used to provide sufficient bed capacity to accommodate those in need of emergency accommodation, it is equally important that resources are channelled to deliver more permanent responses in a more focused and strategic way.

Question No. 75 answered with Question No. 68.
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