Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 December 2020
351. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons in emergency accommodation in north County Kildare; the cost of same in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44492/20]
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 emergency accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities.
My Department publishes a detailed monthly report on homelessness, based on data provided by housing authorities. The Report outlines details of individuals utilising State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements that are overseen by housing authorities. Data relating to homeless adults are presented at a county level. The Reports are available to access on my Department's website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data.
My Department does not fund any homeless services directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards these costs. 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 these funding arrangements with my Department. In light of the foregoing, the precise spend by Kildare County Council on homeless services is a matter for the individual housing authority in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homeless Consultative Forum.
Exchequer funding for homeless services is provided through my Department to housing authorities on a regional basis. County Kildare is included in the Mid East region for the purposes of homeless administration, along with Wicklow and Meath.
The table below sets out Exchequer funding provided to the Mid East Region for the last three years;
Exchequer funding for homeless services for Mid East Region under the Housing Act, 1988
|
2019 |
€5,525,000 |
|
2018 |
€3,738,000 |
|
2017 |
€3,092,923 |
In this regard, financial reports from each of the homeless regions including the Mid East region, setting out expenditure on homeless accommodation and related services are published on my Department's website and along with the monthly reports on homelessness can be found at the above link.
