Homeless Accommodation Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 July 2018

Wednesday, 11 July 2018

Ceisteanna (596)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

596. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the way in which he plans to support the provision of homelessness services within counties Kildare and Wicklow in circumstances in which it is planned to redeploy homelessness services in the form of emergency accommodation from Dublin to County Kildare in which supply is tight; the way in which he plans to support those homeless families in County Kildare that are not permitted to access these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31612/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

My 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 accommodation and associated services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. The matter raised by the Deputy is an operational issue in the day-to-day delivery of services and is a matter for the relevant housing authorities.

Exchequer funding towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services is provided by my Department to housing authorities on a regional basis. A Statutory Management Group exists for each region, comprised of representatives from the relevant housing authorities and the Health Service Executive. It is the responsibility of the Management Group to consider issues around the need for homeless services and to plan for the implementation, funding and co-ordination of such services.