Vol. 528 No. 3
175 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the local authorities and health boards which have drawn up action plans on homelessness as required by the Government's strategy on homelessness. [30209/00]
176 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the counties which have established homeless fora as required by the strategy on homelessness. [30210/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 176 together.
The action plan for the Dublin area has been prepared and agreed by the statutory and voluntary bodies and is due to be put before Dublin Corporation's Housing Strategic Policy Committee on 18 December for approval and adoption. A number of other local authorities' plans should be drafted early in the new year.
Most local authorities have established homeless fora where they were not already in place others are still in the process of establishing the fora but have made contact with the relevant statutory and voluntary bodies.
177 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the action which has been taken to transfer responsibility for the provision of emergency accommodation for homeless persons to local authorities. [30211/00]
178 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the additional accommodation for homeless persons which has been provided since May 2000. [30212/00]
179 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the settlement and outreach programmes to help homeless persons back into independent living which have been established since May 2000. [30213/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 177, 178 and 179 together.
The Government's integrated strategy on homelessness clarified the respective roles of the local authorities and health boards in providing services for homeless persons. In essence, local authorities have responsibility for providing accommodation for homeless persons and health boards are responsible for their care and welfare needs.
In line with the Government's strategy, local authorities, working together with health boards and voluntary bodies, are currently drawing up local action plans to meet the needs of homeless persons in their areas. These plans will identify what additional services, including accommodation and settlement and outreach programmes will be provided in each area over the next three years. In the meantime I continue to urge local authorities to provide directly or acquire additional premises for use as accommodation for homeless persons.
