Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 November 2015
208. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of staff within his Department who are responsible for dealing with homelessness; the role they carry out and their responsibilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42008/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. This function is carried out by a Homeless Unit consisting of six employees - an Assistant Principal, two Higher Executive Officers, two Executive Officers and a Clerical Officer; two of these employees are on works sharing patterns. This unit is incorporated into the Homelessness and Housing Inclusion Supports Section, and the Principal Officer heading this Section also devotes the majority of his time to homelessness matters. In addition, the staff of other Units within the Housing Division, also work on issues in relation to homelessness, as does the Assistant Secretary heading the Housing Division, and the Secretary General. This reflects the fact that the long-term solution to homelessness rests on increasing the supply of homes. In November 2014 I launched the Government’s Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support, Supply and Reform. This six-year strategy sets out to provide 35,000 new social housing units at a cost of €3.8 billion and also provides for the delivery up to 75,000 units through local authority housing support schemes.
Delivering on the Strategy and addressing homelessness involves a co-ordinated approach across the Department’s Housing Division, including other Business Units such as Housing Policy and Finance; Housing Assistance Payment and Current Programmes and Social Housing Capital Investment, and also involving the professional and technical staff who advise on project proposals and building standards and regulations. My Department also has access to outside expertise and resources, such as the Housing Agency, as required.
