Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 June 2016
43. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce additional measures to address the escalating crisis in the increase in child homelessness in May 2016, which is now at 2,177, a 79% increase for the same period in 2015. [18507/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe long-term solution to the challenge of homelessness, including those families with dependants who are homeless, is to increase the supply of homes. The Social Housing Strategy 2020 targets the delivery of 110,000 units for social housing purposes with 35,000 new units to be delivered by local authorities and approved housing bodies, and 75,000 households to be supported mainly through the Housing Assistance Payment Scheme. The Social Housing Strategy 2020 is available on my Department’s website at the following link :http://www.environ.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/social_strategy_document_20141126.pdf.
While the units identified under the Strategy are coming on-stream a significant number of measures are being taken to address the incidence of homelessness. These measures are identified in the Implementation Plan on the State's Response to Homelessness (May 2014) and in the Action Plan to Address Homelessness (December 2014). These Plans represent a whole-of-Government approach to dealing with homelessness. The implementation of measures identified in these Plans is co-ordinated by my Department and is being overseen by a group of senior officials drawn from key State agencies concerned. This group, which is chaired by my Department, includes the Department of Social Protection; the Department of Health; the Department of Children and Youth Affairs; the Health Service Executive; Tusla (the Child and Family Agency); the Irish Prison Service; and local authorities. The Plans and quarterly progress reports on the implementation of the measures therein are available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.environ.ie/housing/homelessness/policy/homelessness .
In addition, the Government has committed to publishing an ‘Action Plan for Housing’ within its first 100 days. The Action Plan aims to address the challenges in the housing sector in a targeted and meaningful way, building on the considerable work already carried out or underway, including actions to expedite and boost supply of all types of housing, including social housing, in the immediate, medium and longer-terms, focusing in particular on those facing most difficulty in accessing the housing and rental market. There will also be a focus on tackling, more quickly, the issue of those living in emergency accommodation, including households with dependents, by expanding and expediting solutions. Importantly, it will also set out measures to prevent homelessness and keep people in their own homes as far as possible.
