Bernard Allen
Ceist:413 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when he proposes to put the local homeless action plans on a statutory basis and to implement a comprehensive data strategy on homelessness. [25461/02]
Written Answers. - Strategy on Homelessness.
There is no proposal at present to put the homeless action plans on a statutory basis. Most of these action plans have now been completed and they provide a clear framework for the planning and delivery of support and services to the homeless. The remaining few plans are in the process of being finalised by local authorities and health boards and should be adopted shortly. The priority at this stage is to ensure implementation of the current homeless action plans and my Department is actively pursuing this with local authorities.
The need to improve data on homelessness is recognised. In Dublin, the Homeless Agency, with the support of my Department, is currently piloting the LINK system with a number of service providers. This system tracks each individual person presenting as homeless to any of these services and this will allow a profile of people using homeless services to be built up. It is intended that the system will be extended to all homeless services in the Dublin area.
Similar improvements to data collection and analysis on homelessness are being considered in other local authority areas where there are a significant number of homeless persons. The issue of improved data collection generally is also being addressed at local authority level as part of the development of an integrated IT package for housing for all local authorities.