Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 January 2018
620. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps of the process that govern a family's route to and from homelessness nationally, by county; the number of interventions by category (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2812/18]
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. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual housing authorities. My Department has no function in relation to operational issues, such as assessment of family for homeless assistance or placement into emergency accommodation, which are a matter for the relevant housing authorities.
Under the Housing Act 1988, it is a matter for the housing authority concerned to determine whether a person is regarded as homeless. Any person regarded as homeless by a housing authority may be placed into temporary emergency accommodation, which the housing authority may arrange itself or which may be operated by a State-funded service provider.
