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Homeless Persons Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 November 2018

Wednesday, 14 November 2018

Questions (97, 134)

Mick Barry

Question:

97. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will report on the recategorisation of persons on the PASS system and the statistics on homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47159/18]

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Bríd Smith

Question:

134. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of recent changes in the calculation of homeless numbers; the rationale behind all such changes; and his additional plans and schemes to deal with vulnerable homeless persons during the winter months. [47157/18]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 134 together.

My Department publishes a monthly homelessness report, which includes details of the numbers of individuals, families and their associated dependents accommodated in emergency accommodation funded and overseen by the housing authorities. These reports are based on data provided by housing authorities, produced through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS). The reports are collated on a regional basis and are published on my Department's website.

Earlier this year a number of categorisation errors were identified in the reports for March and April. This had involved the classification of individuals who were being accommodated in houses and apartments owned or leased by the local authorities or Approved Housing Bodies as being in emergency accommodation. I requested a report on the full extent of this practice which was completed in September. The report identified some further instances of local authority owned or leased houses and apartments being classified as emergency accommodation. The categorisation of these properties as emergency accommodation have been amended by the relevant local authorities.

In relation to plans for the winter, all local authorities have been asked to put in place cold weather arrangements for rough sleepers. Over 200 new permanent beds will be introduced across Dublin before the end of the year. In addition, 100 temporary emergency beds will be available in the Dublin region as part of the cold weather arrangements.

The implementation plan for Housing First, published in September, will deliver permanent housing solutions for rough sleepers and long-term users of emergency accommodation. The Plan contains targets for each local authority, with an overall national target of 660 tenancies to be delivered by 2021.

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