Catherine Connolly
Question:398. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the annual cost of family hubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21162/20]
View answerTuesday, 8 September 2020
Questions (398, 399)
Catherine Connolly
Question:399. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost to set a 14 day-limit on stays in family hubs to ensure all families are moved to more sustainable accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21163/20]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 398 and 399 together.
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 in relation to the provision of emergency accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities.
In relation to the operational funding for the family hubs, my Department provides funding to housing authorities on a regional basis towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services. Under the funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources. Housing authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of the funding arrangements with my Department. Therefore, the exact amounts spent by housing authorities on homeless services are a matter for those authorities. In addition, the cost of operating individual hubs will vary based on factors such as a the location and numbers of families being accommodated in the hub. Financial reports from each of the regions, setting out expenditure on homeless services, including family hubs, in each region in 2019, are published on my Department's website at the following link: https://www.housing.gov.ie/search/sub-type/financial-report.
In general, the operation of family hubs is contracted out by local authorities, under service level agreements, to NGOs involved in the delivery of homeless services. Local authorities and their NGO service providers work with families in family hubs to secure tenancies in the shortest timeframe possible. The time spent in the hub will depend on the housing requirements and preferences of individual families, in addition to the supply of properties in the relevant local authority area. As families are provided with accommodation until such time as a home is secured, it is not possible to provide costings based on a 14-day limit on the duration of a stay in a family hub.
Question No. 399 answered with Question No. 398.