Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 January 2019
1136. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps taken to ensure each person had a roof over their head during the Christmas 2018 period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54444/18]
View answerSupporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness is an absolute priority for this Government. Budget 2019 provided for an increase in the budget for homeless services, with the total budget available to local authorities now €146m, a 26% increase on the provision for 2018. Budget 2019 also provided €60m in additional capital funding for the provision of emergency accommodation in 2018.
In Dublin, where the rough sleeping problem is most pronounced, the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) is delivering over 200 additional permanent beds this winter. All of these beds are supported temporary accommodation (STA) where single individuals and couples receive the accommodation and health supports that they need. Furthermore, over 150 temporary beds were also introduced as part of the cold weather initiative for the Dublin region. The DRHE have confirmed that sufficient bed capacity existed at all stages over the Christmas period.
Many individuals in long-term emergency accommodation or sleeping rough also require other supports to exit homelessness into an independent tenancy. The National Implementation Plan for Housing First, published in September 2018, is designed to provide this response, by delivering 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 663 tenancies to be delivered by 2021.
