Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 June 2015
227. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the action being taken to ensure the welfare of children and pregnant women who are homeless or in emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24128/15]
View answerA range of measures are being taken to secure a ring-fenced supply of accommodation for homeless households and mobilise the necessary supports in order to deliver on the Government's target of ending involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016. These measures have been identified in the Government's Implementation Plan on the State's Response to Homelessness (May 2014) and in the Action Plan to Address Homelessness (December 2014). These Plans represent a whole-of-Government approach to dealing with homelessness and the implementation of measures identified in these plans is being overseen by a group of senior officials drawn from key State agencies dealing with homelessness, housing, welfare, healthcare and related services including the Departments of Health and Children and Youth Affairs, Tusla (the Child and Family Agency) and the Health Service Executive.
Appropriate measures with regard to healthcare and child welfare are included among the actions. Progress in implementing these plans is reported through the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform. The plans and progress reports are available on my Department's website at the following link:
http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/SpecialNeeds/HomelessPeople/ .
