Departmental Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 July 2016

Tuesday, 19 July 2016

Questions (329)

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

329. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the State funding provided by his Department and agencies under its remit, including local authorities to Anew and its predecessor organisations Anchora and Life Pregnancy Care for each year from 2008 to 2015; and his views on the role of that organisation in providing crisis pregnancy counselling to homeless women given the statement in its constitution recognising the uniqueness of every human life from the moment of conception. [22039/16]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

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. In accordance with section 37(2) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services, including accommodation, rests with individual housing authorities. My Department does not fund any service directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services as provided for under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. My Department, therefore, has no role in relation to the particular issue raised in the Question.