Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020
1234. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the local authorities that have requested additional finding under the Traveller accommodation programme to address the needs of Traveller families that are homeless or at risk of homelessness but unable to access emergency accommodation and therefore not on the PASS system. [9267/20]
View answerIn accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
My 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 for the provision of accommodation and related services rests with individual housing authorities. Under the Housing Act 1988 it is a matter for the local authority concerned to determine whether a person is regarded as homeless; section 2 of the Act sets out the requirements in this regard. My Department has increased the budget available to local authorities to deliver homeless services to €166m this year, an increase of €20m on 2019. This increased funding will support increased numbers of households experiencing homelessness with the necessary supports to exit from homelessness to a home.
