Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2016
53. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of homeless persons presenting at and provided with accommodation by the new communities unit by nationality in each of the years 2013 to date. [46518/15]
View answerThe New Communities Unit (NCU) of the Department of Social Protection offers assistance to families who are primarily non-Irish, homeless and generally without recourse to any weekly income. The main focus of this unit is to ensure that families entitled to same receive a payment, under the terms of the relevant legislation, from the Department. In addition non-Irish homeless families have been referred to this unit directly by the Central Placement Service, operated on behalf of the four local authorities by Dublin City Council, and the staff here has facilitated booking these people into accommodation sourced and funded by Dublin City Council.
Information in relation to the number of individuals presenting to the NCU seeking emergency accommodation, and whether or not they are provided with or refused accommodation, is not retained.
With regard to details of customers accommodated however, the managers of the accommodations file returns with a Dublin City Council official and these returns would contain some details of the families concerned.
Information on who refers customers to its service is not collated by the NCE as referrals come from a variety of sources. For example, some come via Dublin City Council, some through various agencies/NGOs and some people self-refer. As there has been no particular relevance attached to the source of the referral this data has not been systematically recorded.
