Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 November 2023
134. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the regional homeless forums have been turned down for funding for homeless actions in their areas; if so, which groups; what the funding was for; whether his Department decides the type and amount of funding that they can apply for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45975/23]
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 local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual local authorities. Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 sets out the purposes for which costs may be incurred by local authorities in respect of the provision of homeless accommodation and related services.
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. Therefore, the exact amounts spent by housing authorities on homeless services, as well as the type and operation of homeless services are a matter for individual local authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum.
While responsibility for the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with individual local authorities, the administration of homeless services is organised on a regional basis, with nine administrative regions in place. 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, in the first instance, to determine the services and the funding required to address homelessness in each region. Following this determination, the procurement of individual services, contractual arrangements and associated service level agreements are a matter for the local authority to agree with individual service providers.
Each region submits an annual expenditure programme to my Department and my Department approves a funding allocation. The management of the funding allocation is delegated to the lead authority in each region and is governed by a protocol between my Department and the lead authority. This protocol sets out the funding arrangements and structures to ensure adherence with statutory requirements and public financial procedures. All regional authorities are obliged to ensure compliance with the Protocol and to ensure that accounting policies are in accordance with the regulatory accounting framework in place. These are subject to oversight and scrutiny at various levels, including by the Local Government Audit Service in their annual audit.
The protocol governing delegation of Exchequer funding for homeless accommodation and related services in each of the nine regions, which is based on the provisions set out above, are available on request.
My Department is in regular contact with local authorities to discuss homeless services proposals, which may be at various stages of developments and the funding requirements to meet their homeless services programme. I continue to assure local authorities that funding for all required homeless services will be provided this year, and I would welcome new proposals for homeless services from local authorities to be submitted to my Department.
