Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
842. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what measures he is taking to improve the standard of homeless hostel accommodation for rough sleepers, in light of the all-too-common opinion that people ‘are safer on the streets’ than in some homeless hostels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1860/24]
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 accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities.
To assist in ensuring that homeless services provided are of a high standard, a National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF) was developed by the DRHE in partnership with the NGO Sector, the HSE, and other key stakeholders.
The standards framework is now in place nationally for all local authority and NGO services. Given the increase in contracting private accommodation exclusively for the use of homeless households and to ensure standards in these facilities, the DRHE have adapted the NQSF standards to apply their provisions to private emergency accommodation.
The standards contained in “Quality Standards for Private Emergency Accommodation” have been developed around the different service models in Private Emergency Accommodation i.e. different entities providing the facility and the supports. As was the case with the roll-out of the NQSF to NGO services, a developmental approach is being taken.
The DRHE following a competitive tender process appointed an independent inspectorate to carry out inspections on DRHE services. The most recent inspection reports are available for review on the DHRE website at www.homelessdublin.ie/quality-standards/test2.
