Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 February 2018
301. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of persons sleeping rough voluntarily and involuntarily in Waterford city and county in 2016, 2017 and January 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6113/18]
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 services, including accommodation, rests with individual housing authorities. It should be noted that the matter referred to is an operational matter for Waterford City and County Council, in the first instance.
Official rough sleeper counts were conducted in a number of major urban centres on Census night April 2016 and no individuals were recorded sleeping on the streets of Waterford. Given that the problem of rough sleeping is limited in most urban centres, including Waterford, official counts are not collected on an ongoing basis. Nevertheless, I understand that Waterford City and County Council is aware of a small number of individuals that may engage in rough sleeping despite the availability of services including emergency accommodation. Outreach teams continue to work to try and provide solutions for this group and to encourage these persons to avail of accommodation.
