Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage to discuss key challenges to tackling homelessness

The meeting at 3pm in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House will hear from representatives from the Ombudsman for Children, Dublin City Council and Westmeath County Council.

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Micheál Carrigy said: “Tackling homelessness is a critical challenge. The main drivers of homelessness, and particularly in the number of families with children presenting as homeless, are shortage of suitable accommodation, notices of termination of leases from the private rented sector and people being discharged from Direct Provision.

“Key challenges for the State and voluntary bodies include preventing people from becoming homeless, protecting households who have no alternative accommodation available to them and assisting families out of homelessness through rehousing.

“Dublin City Council and Westmeath County Council are the lead local authorities for providing shared services to deal with homelessness in the Dublin Region and the Midlands Region respectively. The Committee welcomes this engagement with both authorities to discuss the challenges they face in tackling homelessness and providing support services.

“The impact of becoming homeless on children is a particular concern for this Committee and Members look forward to hearing from the Ombudsman for Children and the two local authorities on this and related matters.”

The Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.