Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 January 2013
513. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline whether funding was granted (details supplied) to a proposed homeless hostel in Wicklow Town to be run in partnership between the Simon Community and Wicklow County Council; to whom this funding was granted; the reasons for granting the award; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3828/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is aware of the property in question which is in the ownership of Wicklow County Council. The Council purchased the property for social housing purposes with the assistance of capital funding from my Department’s Social Housing Investment Programme. Wicklow County Council’s proposal to utilise the property as a homeless facility has been the subject of on-going communication between the Council and my Department. Funding under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 has not been approved or agreed by my Department for the operation of the proposed service. Wicklow County Council has confirmed that it is entering into a service level agreement with the Simon Community to operate the facility on a pilot basis for 12 months, without recourse to the Department for Section 10 funding.
