Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 November 2018
665. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will confirm claims (details supplied) published on his Department's website; and the data on which these claims are based. [48171/18]
View answerMy 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. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities.
In September, I wrote to the chief executives of the four Dublin local authorities highlighting the need for increased action to resolve homelessness. The Chief Executive of Dublin City Council, in his response to me on 10 September, informed me that data available to the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive suggested that approximately 33% of family households presenting as homeless and 42% of rough sleepers have no entitlement to avail of housing supports in the State. My Department does not have access to the source data referred to by the DRHE and Chief Executive in his correspondence. However, my Department is currently reviewing homelessness data collection and reporting with a view to obtaining better information from local authorities. This will include examining the collection of data on those households presenting to homeless services who are not entitled to apply for housing supports.
