Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 February 2024
146. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on his Department’s engagements with stakeholders in relation to potential legislative amendments to sections 2 and 10 of the Housing Act 1988; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56597/23]
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. Section 2 of the Housing Act 1988 outlines how local authorities can form an opinion on whether or not an individual/household shall be regarded as homeless, while section 10 outlines the actions that a local authority may take regarding the accommodation of those regarded as homeless.
My Department, along with nominated representatives of the local authority regional homelessness leads, undertook a review of sections 2 and 10 of the Housing Act 1988 in recognition of the significant changes in homelessness since the drafting of the Housing Act 1988 and to enable local authorities and homeless services to better address homelessness.
The review is now complete and potential amendments to the legislation, which includes the introduction of habitual and legal residency criteria for those seeking to access local authority emergency accommodation, are being considered by my Department. My Department is also engaging with stakeholders, including NGO partners, in relation to potential legislative amendments.
As part of the consultation process for the proposed amendments, I received feedback from stakeholders which raised issues which may require further policy consideration, including the availability of data in relation to the number of people who would be impacted by the proposed eligibility provisions. Therefore, my Department is conducting further research into the homelessness data in order to gain an up to date picture of the various cohorts accessing emergency homeless accommodation.
No policy changes have been introduced. Any proposed changes to the legislation be will be brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas in line with the normal legislative process.
