Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Homelessness Strategy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 February 2021

Wednesday, 24 February 2021

Ceisteanna (299, 301)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

299. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the housing and homeless situation in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9715/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

301. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the emergency homeless accommodation in County Donegal; the number and demographics of persons accessing this accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9717/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 299 and 301 together.

My Department publishes a detailed monthly report on homelessness, based on data provided by housing authorities. The Report outlines details of individuals utilising State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements that are overseen by housing authorities. Data relating to homeless adults are presented at a county level. Where fewer that ten individuals are recorded in a county, data are aggregated with an adjacent county, in line with best statistical practice. The most recent report, for December 2020, records that there were 29 adults utilising emergency accommodation in counties Donegal and Leitrim. Data on families and dependants are represented on a regional level. The December 2020 report records that there were 6 families in the North-West Region in emergency accommodation, which combines Counties Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo.

The Reports are available to access on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/.

Increasing the supply of housing, particularly new build social and affordable homes, is a priority for me and for this Government. The Programme for Government commits to increasing the social housing stock by more than 50,000, with an emphasis on new builds. In Budget 2021, we backed this objective with funding of €3.3 billion for the delivery of housing. Subject to the impact of the Covid related restrictions on the construction sector, the available funding will deliver 12,750 new social homes through build, acquisition and leasing. A major focus of this investment is the delivery of new build, with an overall target of 9,500 new homes.

Barr
Roinn