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Homeless Accommodation Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 February 2019

Wednesday, 13 February 2019

Questions (219)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

219. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there is provision to provide financial assistance to a family under the supplementary welfare allowance, rent allowance scheme or other schemes to cover the cost of accommodation in cases in which the family has been refused access to the housing waiting list by virtue of having no fixed abode; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7316/19]

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Written answers

The primary responsibility for provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with local authorities. This Department can support people who are homeless with no fixed abode by providing income support under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme.

The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is considered the "safety net" within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. The main purpose of the scheme is to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment under other State schemes.

Under SWA, my Department can make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The Government has provided €38.8 million for the exceptional and urgent needs schemes in 2019. Under the ENP scheme payments may be made to support temporary accommodation where an exceptional need arises and there is no alternative service available. There is no automatic entitlement to these payments which are payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case, in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.

The Department also provides supports to tenants towards rent deposits and rent in advance under the ENP scheme with some 2,700 payments made in 2018 at a cost of almost €1.9 million. This form of assistance is very important to those on low incomes and who are at risk of, or who are homeless, or who rely on the private rented market to meet their housing needs.

If the Deputy has concerns in respect of the situation of a specific family, he should bring the details of the case to the attention of the Department. The family should also be requested to engage with the relevant local authority to access homeless services.

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