Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2019
1186. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of families including children in emergency housing accommodation by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45473/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra1187. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the extent to which he can address the high number of families housed in emergency accommodation in lieu of local authority houses nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45474/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1186 and 1187 together.
My Department publishes a monthly report on homelessness. The monthly report is based on data provided by housing authorities and produced through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS). The most recently published report, in respect of September 2019, shows that there were a total of 10,397 individuals in emergency accommodation, including 6,524 adults and 3,873 dependants (including 1,756 families). Data in relation to families and dependants are not collated on a county basis by my Department but are available at regional level and are published on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/homeless_report_-_september_20191.pdf.
Supporting families experiencing homelessness is a priority for this Government. In 2016, the Government published the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness. Rebuilding Ireland is designed to significantly increase the supply of social housing by 50,000 homes in the period to 2021, double the output of overall housing to at least 25,000 homes per annum by 2020, support all tenure types (social, private and rental), and tackle homelessness comprehensively. In 2018, 8,000 new social homes were delivered nationally and this year, a further 10,000 new social homes will be delivered.
Budget 2020 has increased funding available to local authorities to provide homeless accommodation and related services to €166m, an increase of €20m on this year’s budget. While the priority is to support families to secure a home, the Government is also committed to ensuring that appropriate emergency accommodation is available until a home can be provided. In this regard, the Government is providing funding to local authorities to develop and operate family hubs. To date, 29 family hubs have been developed nationally, providing almost 680 units of family accommodation.
Rebuilding Ireland is delivering significant results in supporting exits from homelessness. In 2018, 5,135 adults exited homelessness into homes, an 8.6% increase on 2017. I expect that the numbers of exits from homelessness will increase again in 2019.
