Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 July 2023
61. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if any additional emergency accommodation has been put in place in Mayo since the lifting of the eviction ban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33173/23]
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 local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual local authorities.
My Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to local authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988. Under Exchequer funding arrangements, local authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources. Furthermore, local authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of the Exchequer funding arrangements provided by my Department.
A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. It is a matter for the management group of the consultative forum to determine the type and range of homeless services to address homelessness in each region. The exact amounts spent by housing authorities on homeless services, as well as the type and operation of emergency accommodation including number of emergency accommodation units are a matter for individual local authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum. Details on the number of units of emergency accommodation in Mayo is a matter for Mayo County Council in consultation with the West region homeless consultative forum.
I have made it clear to all housing authorities that funding for all required homeless services will be provided this year. Financial reports from each of the nine homeless regions setting out expenditure on homeless services including on emergency accommodation are available on my Department's website at the following link www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/.
