Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 March 2022
339. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of inspections carried out by the Dublin Region Housing Executive in 2021 as part of the National Quality Standards Framework; if private emergency accommodation providers have been brought under the Standards Framework and if they have been included in any inspections to date. [16448/22]
View answerThe National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF) for homeless services is in place nationally for local authority and NGO delivered services.
The NQSF has been developed to ensure a consistent approach in how local authorities and service providers respond to the needs of those experiencing homelessness and to improve the quality of services provided. In general, the operation of emergency accommodation facilities is contracted out by local authorities, under service level agreements, to NGOs involved in the delivery of homeless services. As a number of facilities are operated privately in the Dublin Region, the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive have adapted the NQSF standards in order to apply their provisions to private emergency accommodation. These standards are being applied to private emergency accommodation, with the owner / operator responsible for the physical standards and the visiting support teams responsible for the support and case management standards. It is understood that these standards are currently being rolled out.
Monitoring of services and the undertaking of site visits and inspections under the NQSF are a matter for the individual local authorities. My Department does not hold the details requested by the Deputy.
