Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 February 2017
159. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans for homeless families after July 2017 when the practice of accommodating them in commercial hotels will be ended; the places they will be accommodated; if the 783 families and 2,505 children will be permanently housed by that deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6217/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraRebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness provides for early and longer-term solutions to address the high levels of homelessness, especially the unacceptable number of families in emergency accommodation in hotels. The plan's commitments are that, by mid-2017, hotels should only be used in limited circumstances as emergency accommodation for families. Full details and timeframes in relation to the range of actions to address family homelessness are set out in Rebuilding Ireland, which is available on the www.rebuildingireland.ie website.
The increases in Rent Supplement and Housing Assistance Payment levels from 1 July 2016 is playing an important role in the achievement of this overall objective, in terms of supporting families to remain in rented accommodation. However, where families do find themselves in homelessness situations, there are a range of solutions in place and bring progressed. These include the Housing Agency programme to acquire 1,600 units and the expanded HAP Homeless Pilot Scheme in Dublin, where some 800 homeless HAP tenancies were entered into by end-2016 and a further 1,200 tenancies are targeted for 2017 across the Dublin Region. A rapid-build programme is also in place, with over 350 rapid-build homes advancing at end-2016. My Department engages with the Dublin Region local authorities on a regular and ongoing basis in relation to the delivery of these and other relevant initiatives.
