Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 November 2020
378. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the efforts that will be made and the resourcing provided to support taking rough sleepers off the streets this winter. [34712/20]
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 associated services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities.
The cold weather arrangements involve the introduction of additional bed capacity to ensure that there is shelter available for individuals experiencing homelessness who may be at risk of rough sleeping. Depending on the particular local requirements, local authorities may also introduce additional measures such as extended opening hours of homeless facilities and extended outreach services.
The cold weather arrangements are typically introduced in November and additional funding is provided by my Department to meet additional costs associated with these measures. Since my appointment, I have been working closely with the local authorities, including the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE), on a range of homeless issues including the arrangements for the winter period and at this point, the DRHE has activated it's cold weather strategy.
Services operate throughout the year to support persons who are rough sleeping. However, there is an increased emphasis on the level of service provision during the cold period in order to mitigate against the health risks that people can be exposed to, through rough sleeping in cold weather conditions. Critically, the cold weather period provides opportunities for engagement with long-term rough sleepers and hard-to-reach groups, where increased supports need to be made available.
The overriding objective is to provide long-term homes for all individuals experiencing homelessness. Individuals accessing homeless services are supported by local authorities and their NGO service delivery partners to secure a home, utilising the various social housing supports.
Finally, the HSE has also launched it's Winter Plan which includes measures targeted at homeless households and taking account of the challenges and threats posed by the Covid pandemic.
