Vol. 572 No. 5
23 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the plans the Government has for an apartment building scheme for homeless persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23593/03]
The Government's housing provision for homeless persons may be delivered either directly by the local authorities or by the voluntary sector with assistance from my Department. Local authorities were allocated 25,000 housing starts under the multi-annual housing construction/acquisition programme for the period 2000 to 2003. It is a matter for the authorities to prepare proposals for housing schemes, including schemes for the accommodation of homeless persons, for submission to my Department for approval, taking account of local needs.
Under the terms of my Department's capital assistance scheme, funding is available to approved voluntary bodies for the provision of accommodation where 75% of the housing units to be provided are to be used as full-time residential accommodation for eligible categories of persons, including homeless persons.
