Thomas Gould
Question:265. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding given to provide accommodation to those sleeping rough in Cork city in 2020 by month. [5205/21]
View answerWednesday, 3 February 2021
Questions (265)
Written answers
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.
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 in Cork on homeless services including on the provision of accommodation for those rough sleeping is a matter for the individual housing authority, in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homeless Consultative Forum established in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009.
Exchequer funding for homeless services is provided through my Department to housing authorities on a regional basis. Cork City is included in the South West region for the purposes of homeless administration, along with Cork County Council and Kerry County Council. In 2020, the total Exchequer funding provided by my Department to the South West Region was €16.2 million.
Financial reports from each of the homeless regions including the South West region, setting out expenditure on homeless accommodation and related services are published on my Department's website at https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data. Financial reports for 2020 are currently being examined and will be published shortly.