Vol. 568 No. 5
416 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if he proposes to place the homeless action plan on a statutory level; and if he proposes to integrate the homeless strategy and the housing strategy. [16802/03]
There are no proposals, at present, to provide a statutory basis for homeless action plans. Almost all of these plans have now been completed and they provide a clear framework for the planning and delivery of support and services to homeless persons. The remaining few plans are in the process of being finalised by local authorities and health boards and should be adopted shortly. The priority is to ensure that the measures in the plans are implemented as quickly as possible. The status of the homeless action plans and their relationship with local authority housing strategies will, however, be considered in the process of the evaluation of the national homeless strategy and local homeless action plans which will be initiated before the end of the year.
