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Debate: Seanad Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/seanad/2020-07-30/13/
30 Jul 2020 - I can only imagine that the pandemic and the sudden, albeit necessary, relocation to emergency accommodation...Direct provision as a means of catering for the process of asylum seekers is a challenging structure,...It is also of note that the overall goal of reforming direct provision is hoped to be achieved in the...We are running out of talent and I suggested we look to direct provision because there is a wealth of...With those numbers in mind, we must acknowledge that the dismantling of direct provision will take time
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Debate: Seanad Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/seanad/2016-01-27/25/
27 Jan 2016 - It rightly draws attention to and highlights particular aspects of direct provision as they relate to...I take the Minister of State's point that debates on direct provision in this House, in particular, but...Members had a specific debate on the direct provision system almost one year ago and they debated it...Clearly, however, one point that emerged through those debates was that until last year, the system had...If people are tendering, they should include in their tender provision for independent cooking facilities
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Debate: Joint Committee On Children And Youth Affairs
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/joint_committee_on_children_and_youth_affairs/2019-07-09/3/
9 Jul 2019 - Statutory responsibility for the provision of accommodation and related services rests with the housing...Independent tenancies are provided for homeless households in the private rented sector through the provision...In 2018 more than 5,000 adults exited homelessness into an independent tenancy....are prevented from having to enter emergency accommodation....We also see significant numbers exiting emergency accommodation every month.
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Debate: Dáil Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2020-12-15/33/
15 Dec 2020 - Deputy Catherine Connolly I thank Sinn Féin for bringing this Bill before the House and for putting...The Bill seeks to provide a legal definition of "persons at risk of homelessness", as has been set out...I support the Bill notwithstanding the deficits in it....We know from the recent Day report that the figure is 1,000, and they cannot move out of direct provision...Almost one third of people in emergency accommodation are children.
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Debate: Joint Committee On Justice And Equality
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/joint_committee_on_justice_and_equality/2019-05-22/3/
22 May 2019 - As such, the Immigrant Council of Ireland's experience of the direct provision system derives primarily...provision centres, and while this can be seen as a niche area within the overall direct provision landscape...The Reception and Integration Agency, RIA, is tasked with the provision of accommodation and material...accommodation for trafficked victims and the provision of additional resources for those refuges are...This is a niche area within the direct provision system.
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Debate: Dáil Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2020-12-15/33/
15 Dec 2020 - Second, we need standardisation of homeless accommodation....Right now, many homeless service providers are unregulated and the standards within homeless accommodation...Some homeless accommodation facilities are very good, but some others are very poor....HIQA needs to be responsible for it and there is a need for regular and routine inspections....That is the subject of one of the Bills on which Aontú is currently working.
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Debate: Joint Committee On Justice And Equality
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/joint_committee_on_justice_and_equality/2019-06-12/5/
12 Jun 2019 - The direct provision payment for children was €9.60 for a 15-year period but it has now increased to...The Ombudsman for Children can now take complaints from children in direct provision....Our view of how to change direct provision is that we need to accommodate families in own-door accommodation...accommodation facilities that are very close to situations where children are living in homeless accommodation...We also must have unannounced public inspections.
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Debate: Seanad Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/seanad/2000-12-15/11/
15 Dec 2000 - Under the strategy, local authorities are responsible for the provision of accommodation for homeless...Capital funding for the direct provision by local authorities of accommodation for homeless persons is...homeless persons on an emergency basis, but the use of it will decrease as alternative accommodation...move out of emergency accommodation, whether bed and breakfast accommodation or hostels, into accommodation...We will see real improvements in the provision of accommodation and support services for homeless people
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Debate: Dáil Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2017-11-22/28/
22 Nov 2017 - We all know that emergency accommodation should only be a first response....This includes rough sleepers, long-term users of emergency accommodation, young people exiting care and...help supports and mental health addiction services in emergency accommodation facilities....In 2018, community mental health services and support teams will engage with homeless action teams to...people than the proposals in the Bill.
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Debate: Seanad Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/seanad/1984-05-02/5/
2 May 1984 - He has come on one occasion and inspected my caravan....In Northern Ireland until 1972, a mandatory duty was imposed on county councils to make provision for...The job of providing for emergency accommodation was transferred to the Northern Ireland housing executive...Emergency housing was set up as a category to cover such situations as when a person becomes homeless...Bill we are discussing, does not apply in Northern Ireland.
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Debate: Committee Of Public Accounts
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/committee_of_public_accounts/2017-05-11/5/
11 May 2017 - and food at what are known as direct provision centres. ...In addition, residents of direct provision centres are entitled to a small weekly allowance paid by the...As of December 2015, there was a total of 35 direct provision centres in operation - seven State-owned...there is no obligation to avail of direct provision, the number who opt to do so....Some 23% of residents, or 950 people, continued to reside in direct provision even though their cases
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Debate: Seanad Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/seanad/2016-01-27/25/
27 Jan 2016 - The term "direct provision" describes the system whereby the State directly provides accommodation and...of the published Bill....provision centres in that catchment area can be directed....In respect of recommendation 4.226, inspections of direct provision centres are carried out by the RIA...provision accommodation.
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Debate: Joint Committee On Housing, Planning And Local Government
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/joint_committee_on_housing_planning_and_local_government/2019-06-12/3/
12 Jun 2019 - We advocate for the authority to take on independent inspections of both direct provision accommodation...as well as emergency homelessness accommodation....Recently we worked with the Department of Justice and Equality to produce the national standards for direct...provision accommodation and we drew very heavily on HIQA standards....We have drafted some provisions and I know Deputy Ó Broin has done so as well.
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Debate: Dáil Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2017-07-13/3/
13 Jul 2017 - Deputy Eoin Ó Broin The Tánaiste is aware that in May, 1,300 families were living in emergency accommodation...Nor do the figures include the 247 adults and 152 children trapped in direct provision who have leave...living in State-funded emergency accommodation....Some 70% of homeless families have been in emergency accommodation for more than six months, with 40%...They call for independent inspections of all emergency accommodation, particularly where there are children
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Debate: Dáil Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2014-09-30/28/
30 Sep 2014 - Direct provision was the public policy response to a major accommodation crisis at the time....The number of persons residing in direct provision accommodation peaked at 8,080 in 2005....The annual budget for direct provision accommodation, at its highest, in 2008, exceeded €91 million....The number now in direct provision accommodation is approximately 4,300 which represents a reduction..., with reference to the accommodation portfolio; the arrangements for handling complaints and inspections
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Debate: Seanad Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/seanad/2014-09-17/7/
17 Sep 2014 - These include the material needs of applicants in direct provision, including the direct provision allowance...and exceptional needs payments, limitations on the time persons spend in direct provision, education...No one has ever been made homeless....The aim is to have the Bill passed through the Oireachtas by Easter 2015, with the heads of the Bill...I acknowledge that the system of direct provision was created to avert a homelessness crisis.
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Debate: Dáil Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2020-12-16/11/
16 Dec 2020 - We also know that there are more than 1,700 adults and children in direct provision, non-State funded...emergency and transitional accommodation, and Tusla-funded domestic violence refuges....figures to an independent body such as the Central Statistics Office or the Housing Agency?...I also ask Government parties to support Deputy Ó Broin's Homeless Prevention Bill 2020, which places...Government must enable local authorities to end the use of congregated dormitory-style accommodation,
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Debate: Joint Committee On Housing, Planning And Local Government
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/joint_committee_on_housing_planning_and_local_government/2019-06-12/3/
12 Jun 2019 - Overall in 2018, Mercy Law advised more than 720 individuals and families, of whom 244 were experiencing...We also raise a most urgent concern in respect of the provision of one-night-only emergency accommodation...This type of accommodation provision is not fit for purpose....emergency accommodation to homeless families and provision of stable placements in suitable temporary...We share the call for the creation of an independent body to conduct regular inspections of homeless
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Debate: Dáil Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2018-11-13/40/
13 Nov 2018 - The Bill seeks to formally declare the housing and homelessness crisis a national emergency....Comparing like-with-like figures, by September 2018 the total number of homeless had increased by 1,497...an emergency; to reduce the flow of adults and children into homelessness through emergency legislation...The Bill seeks to use the same provision in Bunreacht na hÉireann to delimit the powers of landlords...The measures enacted under this Bill supersede all existing law on the matters concerned while the emergency
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Debate: Dáil Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2015-06-12/3/
12 Jun 2015 - In Fianna Fáil we share a number of concerns about the policy of direct provision....provision....provision system....The third recommendation relates to the inspections....The committee recommends going beyond that by using an independent authority, but the Minister of State
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Debate: Joint Committee On Justice And Equality
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/joint_committee_on_justice_and_equality/2019-05-22/3/
22 May 2019 - There are now approximately 6,100 people in direct provision....We recommended that all direct provision centres have independent living in the sense that there should...Owing to the shortage of accommodation, the RIA is also obliged to provide emergency accommodation outside...It costs in the region of €99 a night per person to accommodate those who cannot be accommodated in direct...Also, in light of the high cost of emergency accommodation, one wonders in these circumstances whether
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Debate: Seanad Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/seanad/1998-02-05/6/
5 Feb 1998 - This is not to trivialise these unfortunate people, but if a citizen of this country desires accommodation...Perception is all in politics and it seems as if these Departments are operating either unilaterally, independently...Consequently, housing provision continues to be inadequate, despite the Government's best efforts....We saw negative equity emerge in London and other British cities after the cycle of house price increases...instrument, do a bit of gardening, play with the kids, have a drink, get the housework done and the bills
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Debate: Dáil Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2014-09-30/28/
30 Sep 2014 - Rapporteur on Child Protection in relation to the detrimental effect of direct provision accommodation...complaints and inspection mechanisms; — provide for the transfer to independent living within six months...complaints and inspection mechanisms; provide for the transfer to independent living within six months...in direct provision centres"....Geoffrey Shannon, highlighted the real risk of child abuse in direct provision accommodation arising
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Debate: Joint Committee On Housing, Planning And Local Government
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/joint_committee_on_housing_planning_and_local_government/2019-03-06/3/
6 Mar 2019 - impact on the level of homelessness....Every time a new person moves into emergency accommodation, it marks a step in the wrong direction....for people in emergency accommodation....and prevent people entering emergency accommodation....In 2018, there was a significant change in the size of the increase in numbers entering emergency accommodation
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Debate: Dáil Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2019-03-28/67/
28 Mar 2019 - In 2011, when Fine Gael took office, there were 641 children in emergency accommodation according to...because of the housing crisis and using direct provision as emergency accommodation....In 2018, as the Minister knows, rents increased by 7% across the State and by 8% in Dublin, which is...accommodation tonight?...We need emergency measures to tackle spiralling rents and reduce homelessness.
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Debate: Dáil Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2019-02-14/33/
14 Feb 2019 - It is rare that families are in emergency accommodation for three years or more....We also call on the Government to commit to rehousing families who have been in emergency homeless accommodation...provision centres, the Minister advised that in 2016 there were 899 parents and 1,219 children in direct...figures and another 1,600 in direct provision centres, the number of homeless children on the watch...In December 2018, myself and my Independent colleagues submitted this motion which notes the constant
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Debate: Seanad Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/seanad/2020-07-30/13/
30 Jul 2020 - I also welcome the series of commitments she has given on direct provision and, on top of this, her sincere...There are major flaws with the direct provision system, and the Minister outlined them quite clearly....She has been, for some time, based in an emergency provision centre in Courtown....I know the Minister has already accepted a manifesto from a number of those in direct provision centres...Those who have gone through and understand the direct provision system have a contribution to make to
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Debate: Dáil Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2019-11-14/38/
14 Nov 2019 - to produce an emergency-level response to the ongoing crisis in housing....An "RTÉ Investigates" programme in 2018, "Nightmare to Let", revealed the scale of the problem across...The Bill draws from UK and Canadian provisions to establish a new standard....Threshold is urgently calling for emergency legislation to be put in place introducing a legal definition...in 2018, a total of 20,414 were substandard, representing 81% of premises inspected.
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Debate: Joint Committee On The Environment, Heritage And Local Government
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/joint_committee_on_the_environment_heritage_and_local_government/2008-11-18/4/
18 Nov 2008 - It was a matter of dealing with the emergency aspects of homelessness to ensure people would not die...People in emergency accommodation face significant blockages....There are those who will not be able to live independently....Standards require enforcement and it is a matter of ensuring local authorities inspect properties....adequate support, get on satisfactorily in their accommodation and do not leave bills unpaid or interfere
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Debate: Dáil Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2018-11-13/40/
13 Nov 2018 - Women living in domestic violence shelters, 5,000 people living in direct provision, people living in...emergency shelters that are not funded by local authorities, and couch surfers are not counted in the...If these groups were counted what would be the real homeless rate?...The National Homeless and Housing Coalition has called for a national demonstration on the streets of
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Debate: Dáil Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2004-09-29/769/
29 Sep 2004 - The vast majority of these were in homeless accommodation ranging from emergency to long-term supported...A wide range of additional accommodation has been provided, ranging from emergency night shelter to long-term...sheltered accommodation to enable homeless persons move out of emergency accommodation into long-term...Capital funding for the direct provision by local authorities of accommodation for homeless persons is...to monitor the implementation of the homeless strategies and will oversee the independent review of
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Debate: Dáil Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2011-10-25/54/
25 Oct 2011 - The accommodation of asylum seekers through the direct provision system is the responsibility of the...Asylum seekers in direct provision accommodation also receive a weekly cash allowance which takes account...ancillary services to asylum seekers in direct provision accommodation....Asylum seekers in direct provision accommodation will generally qualify for a medical card whereby they...RIA independent external assessors to conduct comprehensive inspections of all centres on at least an
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Debate: Dáil Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2018-12-12/35/
12 Dec 2018 - It is important to spell out the main provisions of that forthcoming Government Bill in order that people...It needs to be possible for the RTB to act independently....Our Bill also provides to extend rent protections to student accommodation where we can....inspections....think it would move to help the situation, it could make it far worse, far more quickly, by making homelessness
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Debate: Select Committee On The Environment, Heritage And Local Government
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/select_committee_on_the_environment_heritage_and_local_government/2009-06-09/2/
9 Jun 2009 - of emergency accommodation and the need to sleep rough....A number of new definitions are required in the main interpretation provision of the Bill in section...of accommodation of financial assistance, to households that were formerly homeless or to tenants of...provision for the making of homelessness action plans...., and the Department is doing its utmost to provide clear guidance and direction to local authorities
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Debate: Special Committee On Covid-19 Response
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/special_committee_on_covid_19_response/2020-05-26/5/
26 May 2020 - for the last couple of years, augmented by a series of hotels and bed and breakfasts which provided emergency...provision settings....Shared accommodation is common in homeless and disability services, student accommodation and private...In recent months, therefore, we have procured more than 1,550 permanent and temporary new direct provision...have access to kitchens and food shops so they can live and cook independently.
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Debate: Dáil Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1988-06-02/5/
2 Jun 1988 - of emergency accommodation and, in particular, in response to the accommodation needs of travellers;...The provisions of the Bill on homelessness have attracted most comment since the Bill was published and...for a homeless person who did not have the capacity to live independently....The basic response by local authorities to the needs of the homeless remains the direct provision of...For many years the local housing programme was directed at the provision of new accommodation with little
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Debate: Dáil Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2017-12-15/2/
15 Dec 2017 - It should be kept in mind that homelessness figures do not include people sleeping rough, people in direct...He said emergency accommodation deprived children of the right to achieve their full potential and compromises...The question of standards in emergency accommodation is another major issue....Peter McVerry has highlighted that emergency accommodation has no standards or inspections and that it...as emergency accommodation.
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Debate: Dáil Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2019-04-18/2/
18 Apr 2019 - The situation of children in emergency accommodation is particularly disturbing....best possible emergency accommodation as they are supported to identify and secure an independent home...The number of Departments and agencies with key roles in the provision of supports and services to children...We are making some progress, with over 5,000 adults exiting homelessness into tenancies in 2018....strengthening and improving security of tenure for tenants through the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill
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Debate: Joint Committee On Housing, Planning, Community And Local Government
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/joint_committee_on_housing_planning_community_and_local_government/2017-09-20/4/
20 Sep 2017 - for homeless families....recently a change to social housing building policy which will see the housing budget being reoriented to direct-build...As a result, the current target for 2018 of 3,000 newly built homes will increase by almost 30% to 3,800...Housing authorities are working hard to ensure the progression of homeless families into independent...while move-on options to long-term independent living are identified and secured.
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Debate: Dáil Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2018-11-13/40/
13 Nov 2018 - and a fear of homelessness, and the people in emergency accommodation of whom there are far too many...The Taoiseach has said that this is an emergency and the Bill refers to declaring an emergency....It takes people out and keeps them out of emergency accommodation....Thousands more will exit emergency accommodation during the period of the plan....are and to prevent people from having to enter into emergency accommodation.
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Debate: Joint Committee On Housing, Planning And Local Government
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/joint_committee_on_housing_planning_and_local_government/2018-11-22/3/
22 Nov 2018 - 8% of the total homeless number that night....It is important to note that the Bill at hand applies to some "student specific accommodation" but may...It is not clear how this would square with the provisions of the Bill, which state that a tenancy will...There has been an 11.3% increase on the average asking rent in 2018 up to September and it is already...Unless there is a radical change in the direction of housing policy, this crisis is going to continue
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Debate: Dáil Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2018-01-23/41/
23 Jan 2018 - , have been made homeless, are in emergency accommodation or are sleeping on the floors of family and...These situations are a direct result of the failure of successive Governments to effectively ensure the...type of long-term rental option for people if we are to ensure people have choice when it comes to the provision...of the Bill before us....As Focus Ireland commented with respect to the Bill, these steps provide those at risk of homelessness
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Debate: Seanad Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/seanad/1988-06-22/8/
22 Jun 1988 - is directed towards providing adequate and appropriate accommodation for persons unable to provide such...of emergency accommodation and, in particular, in response to the accommodation needs of travellers;...In framing the homelessness provisions of this Bill, my objective has been to secure a real improvement...The basic response by local authorities to the needs of the homeless is, and will remain, the direct...There has been a great response to the special provision of £1 million for accommodation for the homeless
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Debate: Select Committee On Housing, Planning And Local Government
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/select_committee_on_housing_planning_and_local_government/2019-04-11/3/
11 Apr 2019 - Vacant possession and notice to quit are the leading forms of family homelessness....also a significant cost to the State because if a family spends between six and 24 months, or more, in emergency...accommodation that costs....If he rejects this provision, there is an onus on him to bring something else forward....system or into being at risk of homelessness.
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Debate: Joint Committee On Children And Youth Affairs
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/joint_committee_on_children_and_youth_affairs/2019-06-19/3/
19 Jun 2019 - A majority of families with children who present as homeless are still being provided with emergency...hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation to provide for the emergency, temporary accommodation needs...and providing emergency accommodation to families via hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation; an...independent, formal evaluation of the suitability of family hubs as an approach to providing emergency...inspection of those homelessness services.
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Debate: Dáil Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2019-02-14/33/
14 Feb 2019 - statistics show there were 9,753 persons in emergency accommodation in the month of December 2018, comprised...in December 2018, while 72 per cent of families in emergency accommodation in the Dublin region at the...into independent tenancies in the nine-month period between January and September 2018, and this represents..., whereby households who were not in emergency accommodation had been counted in the emergency accommodation...; — the provision of accommodation to those in the international protection process and the provision
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Debate: Dáil Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2018-09-26/23/
26 Sep 2018 - At the end of the second quarter of 2018, excluding households accommodated under the homeless HAP arrangements...of the place finder service based on local needs, including the point at which a household will be directed...The provisions of the homeless HAP scheme provide local authorities with the discretion to assist homeless...To broaden the provisions of advance rent and deposits is contradictory to the principles of the HAP...That goes for people at risk of homelessness or coming out of emergency accommodation.
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Debate: Dáil Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1986-11-04/17/
4 Nov 1986 - The Bill places the responsibility for the homeless fairly and squarely with the local authority....This is a person who is regarded by the local authority as homeless and capable of independent living...person is capable of independent living....The Bill also provides for special accommodation for the handicapped and I welcome this proposal....I welcome this Bill as a step in the right direction towards housing the homeless.
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Debate: Seanad Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/seanad/2019-05-15/15/
15 May 2019 - I will explain why, even if it were constitutional, I believe it would be necessary to have the provision...One of the things that we are trying to do with the Bill is to give greater powers to the RTB to act...independently of tenants....We have done two things in the Bill in this regard....landlords where human rights are being abused by putting people in unsuitable, unsafe and overcrowded accommodation
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Debate: Dáil Éireann
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2020-10-06/5/
6 Oct 2020 - The real figure, however, is more than 10,000 when one includes those continually trapped in direct provision...despite having received leave to remain, effectively, using direct provision centres as emergency accommodation...We have also seen an alarming rise in the deaths of people in emergency accommodation or sleeping rough...All this is a direct consequence of the under provision of social housing, a lack of Housing First tenancies..., an over-reliance on congregated emergency accommodation and adequate addiction and mental health supports
