Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 May 2017
293. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of family hubs per local authority; the number of units in each hub; the time each family is expected to be accommodated in the hubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24438/17]
View answer301. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of family hubs which have been set up; the locations where hubs have been set up; the number of families that have been facilitated in each hub; the criteria for allocations; and the facilities that are provided in these hubs. [24618/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 293 and 301 together.
The Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness provides for early solutions to address the high number of households in emergency accommodation. These include the delivery of increased social housing supply through new-build, acquisition and refurbishment schemes and independent tenancies for homeless households in the private rented sector through housing supports such as the enhanced Housing Assistance Payment. Good progress is being made in this regard with over 3,000 sustainable exits from homelessness achieved during 2016, a record level of exits in a calendar year.
Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual housing authorities. Accordingly, the specific information sought is a matter for the relevant housing authorities.
I understand, however, that the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive is working with each of the four Dublin local authorities to support the delivery of a number of family facilities, which will provide homeless families with more appropriate and supported temporary accommodation as an alternative to hotel accommodation. The facilities in question will provide a suite of children's services, laundry facilities and cooking facilities and will provide space for families to engage with their key workers and with local authorities in relation to finding more permanent housing solutions.
It should be noted that similar family facilities are being delivered in counties Limerick, Cork and Kildare.
