Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 January 2024
256. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is in contact with a homeless charity (details supplied) regarding its finances with a view to it continuing to provide services to the homeless; if financial assistance will be made available to it to ensure that all bills from creditors will be settled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3454/24]
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 services rests with individual local authorities.
The named organisation informed the Dublin Region Homeless Executive and my Department of potential financial issues in the organisation in July 2023. The organisation also advised that it had separately informed the Charities Regulator and the AHB Regulator (AHBRA).
My Department and the DRHE formed an Oversight Group, chaired by an independent governance and legal expert, to review the financial and governance issues raised and to advise me appropriately. The DRHE also appointed PwC to undertake a review and preliminary and final reports were provided to the Oversight Group.
Following the Oversight Group's review of the recommendations made by PwC, I received a letter from the Chair of the Group. Having considered the contents of the Chair's letter and the information provided, my priority was to ensure that the services provided to homeless individuals and families would continue uninterrupted.
In this regard, proposals for the provision of funding, on an exceptional basis, were considered by Government. On 28 November, the Government approved funding on an exceptional basis of up to €15 million to be paid to the named organisation. Funding may be paid between December 2023 and 31 March 2024 on a phased basis, subject to the provision of the relevant information. The funding is also conditional on the named organisation complying with a range of conditions related to financial management and governance.
