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Emergency Accommodation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 November 2021

Tuesday, 23 November 2021

Questions (274)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

274. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 46 of 6 October 2021, the result of his Department’s engagement with the Garda National Vetting Bureau and the Department of Justice in relation to Garda vetting under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012-2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57091/21]

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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 a local level.

My Department does not provide homeless accommodation services directly but contributes to overall expenditure incurred by housing authorities in the provision of homeless accommodation and related services. Exchequer funding provided by my Department is governed by a protocol agreement between the Department and the lead authority in each region. This protocol sets out the funding arrangements and structures to ensure adherence with statutory and public financial procedures. The protocol agreement requires that local authorities and their service delivery partners, including voluntary NGOs and private operators, comply with all statutory codes including the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, the Fire Services Acts and the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012-2016.

In respect of Garda Vetting, the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012-2016 sets out the legal requirements for Garda vetting and the parameters for same. While many of the NGOs working within the homeless sector have members of staff and volunteers that are vetted under the Act, homeless services are not currently specifically identified in the relevant legislation whereby vetting is mandatory. My Department is actively engaging with the Garda National Vetting Bureau and the Department of Justice in this regard with the objective of ensuring that where it is needed, Garda vetting is made available under the Act.

My Department is also engaging with the Garda Vetting Review Group which was put in place by the Department of Justice to review provisions under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons Act) 2012-2016, and participated at its most recent meeting on 12 October 2021. The work of this Group is ongoing at present.

My Department recently hosted a Workshop between the Garda National Vetting Bureau and local authorities. The Workshop allowed for engagement on the practical operation of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012-2016 as it relates to services provided to homeless persons, and in particular the role of local authorities and homeless service providers. My Department intends to follow this up by facilitating further events, as needed, between the Garda National Vetting Bureau and local authorities.

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