Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2023
317. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of meetings between his officials led by organisations (details supplied) in 2022 and 2023 on the issue of the financial sustainability of homeless services and the review of funding arrangements in the homeless sector; the dates on which those meetings occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52058/23]
View answer318. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the proposed review of section 10 funding for homeless services that was agreed in 2021 did not proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52059/23]
View answer319. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to set out the detail of the review of homeless services recently initiated in the wake of the revelations regarding funding issues at an organisation (details supplied); who is conducting the review; the terms of reference of the review; the timeline for the review; and if he will consider the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage playing a role in public consideration of the outcome of this review. [52063/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 317, 318 and 319 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 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.
My Department met with the DRHE and the named non-government organisations (NGOs) on six occasions from 1 January 2022 to date in 2023. The meetings were arranged to discuss a range of issues relating to the provision of homeless services and were not specifically focussed on funding arrangements.
In response to issues raised at the aforementioned meetings in relation to Section 10 funding arrangements, the CCMA are undertaking a review of the current model for Exchequer funding under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988. The goal of the review is to agree measures that will provide for a secure and sustainable funding model for the homeless sector. The terms of reference for the Review are agreed and NGOs were provided with an opportunity for input to this process. The CCMA has established a working group for the Review and the work of this group in underway. Following the completion of the work of the Working Group a report will be prepared and submitted to my Department for review, it is expected that this work will be completed by Q2 2024
I understand that the DRHE commissioned a review of the Section 10 funding model in 2021. My Department were not involved in that process.
