Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 December 2017
264. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the remaining 690 families living in hotel rooms will be moved into secure and appropriate housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52158/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraBased on reports received from the Dublin Region Homeless Executive, there were a total of 676 families accommodated in hotel and B and B arrangements at the end of October; this is a reduction of 195 families, or more than 22%, on the high of 871 recorded in March of this year.
As part of the response to the commitment contained in Rebuilding Ireland that commercial hotels and B&B's should only be used as emergency accommodation for families in limited circumstances, housing authorities are delivering a number of family-focused, supported temporary accommodation facilities, also referred to as ‘family hubs’. These custom-developed hub facilities offer more appropriate living arrangements for families than is possible in hotel accommodation. There are currently ten such facilities in operation in Dublin providing temporary accommodation to approx. 300 families. Five new hubs will become operational across Dublin before the end of the year and another two early in the New Year. Further hubs will be delivered during the course of 2018.
The long-term solution to the current homeless issue is to increase the supply of homes and accordingly Rebuilding Ireland is designed to accelerate all types of housing supply. It is intended that the long-term housing needs of households in emergency accommodation will be met as soon as possible through a range of social housing supports, such as the enhanced Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme and general social housing allocations.
