Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 November 2016
77. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if additional funding is available to provide emergency accommodation in South Dublin County Council; if he and his Department have been in discussions with officials in South Dublin County Council to identify potential sites for this emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33132/16]
View answerMy Department provides funding to housing authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. Under ‘Section 10’ funding arrangements, funding is provided regionally and on a delegated basis whereby responsibility for decision-making in relation to particular services rests with the Statutory Management Group of the respective region al Joint Homelessness Consultative Forum. The funding needs of the various regions are kept under review on an on-going basis.
The four Dublin housing authorities have agreed that Dublin City Council acts as the lead local authority with regard to the provision and oversight of homeless services in the Dublin region and the Dublin Region Homeless Executive carries out these functions under a shared service agreement with the authorities. Accordingly, my Department primarily liaises with the Dublin Region Homeless Executive in relation to funding and service needs across the Dublin Region, and such liaison occurs on an ongoing basis. In addition, my Department also engages with all four Dublin authorities directly on a range of social housing and homelessness issues as necessary and, in that context, is continuing to engage with the authorities to explore a range of homeless accommodation options in the Dublin area.
