Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
947. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he is satisfied that local authorities currently have enough resources to prevent homelessness and accommodate those forced into homelessness, given the recent rise in evictions as evidenced in the RTB quarterly statistics and the lifting of the eviction moratorium. [38924/23]
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 and funding required to address homelessness in each region. The exact amounts spent by local authorities on homeless services, as well as the type and operation of emergency accommodation are a matter for individual local authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum. It is a matter for the Management Group to bring forward proposals to my Department that meet the needs of homeless individuals in their administrative area.
In response to the increased numbers of those presenting as homeless, local authorities expect to bring on stream an additional 2,000 emergency beds over the course of 2023. To date in 2023, over 1,000 new emergency beds have opened in the Dublin Region. The Department is actively working with all local authorities to ensure there is sufficient emergency accommodation available to people presenting as homeless and it is expected that a further 1,000 beds will open over the course of quarter 3 and 4. I have made it clear to all local authorities that funding for all required homeless services will be provided this year.
The funding will allow local authorities to continue to focus on preventing homelessness in the first instance and to provide support to those at risk of or experiencing homelessness. It will also aid in the further expansion of the Housing First approach in line with commitments made in Housing for All, provide for a planned extension of outreach and intensive engagement services to our most vulnerable and provide accommodation to those experiencing homelessness. Additionally there remains a firm focus on ensuring that pathways out of homelessness for those individuals and families in emergency accommodation are secured as quickly as possible.
Where a landlord has issued a notice of termination to a tenant, a number of new measures have been introduced and existing measures were expanded to support the acquisition of the property by the tenant or the local authority. They include measures for households that qualify for social housing support and those who are ineligible for social housing.
Increasing housing supply across all tenures is the key to preventing homelessness. My Department continues to prioritise measures which focus on accelerating social and affordable housing supply through a combination of new build, targeted acquisitions and leasing.
Record state investment of €4.5bn is being made available this year to support the largest State home building programme ever, including 9,100 direct build social homes and 5,500 affordable homes.
The Targeted Leasing initiative, which has been set up specifically to target those experiencing or at risk of homelessness, is set to deliver over 400 additional social homes for 2023.
Policy is being developed to help a tenant to buy their rented home on the basis of a landlord offering their tenant first right of refusal, in accordance with the Government Decision of 7 March 2023.
These measures are all aimed at preventing households from becoming homeless or to help people exit from homelessness in order to reduce the numbers of adults and children in emergency accommodation. As the implementation of these measures gathers pace we will see their impact on the current homelessness situation become apparent.
Reducing and preventing homelessness remains a top priority for the Government. I will continue to work with the National Homelessness Action Committee to ensure that we address both prevention of entries into homelessness and exits from homelessness as a matter of urgency. My Department will continue to work with local authorities to ensure sufficient funding is made available to support all those at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
