I propose to take Questions Nos. 303 and 312 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.
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. Therefore, the exact spending by housing authorities on homeless services, as well as the types of services, are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homeless Consultative Forum, as provided for under 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. The funding provided for 2020 and 2021 to date is set out below:
Region
|
2020€m
|
2021 (to date)€m
|
Dublin
|
217,535,359
|
138,222,775
|
Mid East
|
8,500,368
|
5,192,547
|
Midland
|
2,531,226
|
1,689,450
|
Mid West
|
9,188,376
|
7,174,135
|
North East
|
2,935,081
|
2,056,635
|
North West
|
812,285
|
741,000
|
South East
|
3,890,374
|
3,419,833
|
South West
|
16,247,187
|
11,204,928
|
West
|
9,259,668
|
6,814,185
|
Total
|
270,899,923
|
176,515,489
|
Certified financial reports, which provide a breakdown of expenditure for each region, are published annually on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/#local-authority-regional-financial-reports.
Certified financial reports for 2021 will be collated early in 2022 on receipt of final end of year financial reports.