Housing Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2015

Tuesday, 26 May 2015

Questions (956)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

956. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of the concerns of officials of councils and An Garda Síochána regarding the implications of allocating 50% of all senior citizen housing vacancies to homeless persons; his views that in some cases this can lead to disturbance and anti-social activity for existing residents, as some homeless persons have additional problems with addiction and mental health issues and require an alternative supported setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20307/15]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Successfully tackling the current homelessness issue demands that a higher priority be afforded to homeless households in the allocation of housing. Accordingly, I issued a Direction to a number of key housing authorities on 27 January 2015 to prioritise homeless and other vulnerable households with regard to the allocation of tenancies under their control. The four Dublin local authorities have been directed to allocate 50% of all available dwellings while the local authorities in counties Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford have been directed to allocate 30%.

The Direction is time bound for a six-month period until July 2015 and will be subject to review having regard to evidence of housing allocations during that time. It is expected that during the timeframe at least 500 homes will be provided to prioritised households in the Dublin Region, with a similar total for the other areas combined.

I have no function in relation to the individual allocations of housing to homeless and other vulnerable households in accordance with the Direction, as this is solely a matter for the local authorities concerned.