My Department is responsible for providing funding for accommodation and related expenses for homeless persons which in some cases involves the provision of funding towards the operational costs of domestic violence refuges.
Statutory responsibility for policy on developing and providing services aimed at tackling domestic violence rests with the Department of Health and is delivered through the HSE.
Housing authorities have statutory responsibility for homeless accommodation and any proposals for additional accommodation for homeless persons would be a matter for consideration in the first instance by the Management Group of the Regional Joint Homelessness Fora.
Capital funding is available through my Department’s Capital Assistance Scheme to approved voluntary housing bodies to provide accommodation to meet the special housing needs of groups including the elderly, the homeless, persons with disabilities and victims of domestic violence. My Department’s involvement with the scheme relates primarily to the provision of funds for individual projects. The administration of the scheme, including the appraisal of new applications, the management of the planning and procurement stages of projects and the certification that particular projects comply with the terms of the scheme, are the responsibility of the appropriate local authority.
