Ruth Coppinger
Ceist:248. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the measures he has advanced to solve the child homelessness crisis. [23027/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 4 October 2016
Ceisteanna (248)
Freagraí scríofa
The solution to the challenge of homelessness, including for those families with children, is to increase the supply of homes as envisioned under Rebuilding Ireland: An Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness. The Action Plan, published on 19 July 2016, aims to deliver 47,000 units of social housing over the period to 2021 through construction, refurbishment, acquisitions and leasing, supported by Exchequer investment of some €5.35 billion.
The Plan provides for early solutions to address the unacceptable level of families in emergency accommodation, including the objective that by mid-2017, hotels will only be used for emergency accommodation in very limited circumstances. The increases in Rent Supplement and Housing Assistance Payment levels from 1 July 2017, in terms of supporting families to remain in rented accommodation, will play an important role in the achievement of this overall objective. However, where families do find themselves in a homeless situation, their needs will be met through the enhanced Housing Assistance Payment, general social housing allocations, the wider housing supply to be delivered through an expanded Rapid-Build housing programme and a Housing Agency initiative to acquire 1,600 vacant housing units.
The Action Plan also outlines the Government’s commitment to ensure that services are fully responsive to the particular needs that might arise for families with children that are residing in emergency accommodation, with a number of measures to be overseen by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. These measures include the appointment of a Dedicated Child Support Worker, assistance by Home School Community Liaison and School Completion staff, and access to crèches and preschool services.
The Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan is available at http://rebuildingireland.ie/.