Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 May 2022
226. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to an increase in homelessness in Cork city; if he has met with homeless services; and his plans to tackle the issue. [26222/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe increase in homelessness seen nationally in recent months is a serious concern for Government. We are acting to address this, and while significant work has been done there is still more to do.
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. The Reports are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/
The most recently published data is in respect of March 2022. There were 324 adults and 69 child dependants in emergency accommodation in Cork City during the March count week. This represents a monthly decrease of 10 adults and 5 child dependants on the February figures.
I have established the National Homeless Action Committee, and I have asked them to prioritise the issue of homelessness prevention and to look at all further avenues of addressing this. The Committee includes representation from the local authority and NGO sector.
In February, I held a Housing Summit with senior officials from the local authorities, at which measures to prevent homelessness and accelerate exits were discussed. Local authorities are prioritising tenancy support services, prevention and the use of the Placefinder service for HAP tenancies.
The HAP scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of Q4 2021, over 100,000 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were more than 61,900 households actively in receipt of HAP support and over 33,000 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by the scheme. My Department funds a ‘HAP Placefinder Service’, which, through the work of local authorities, is playing a vital role in keeping households out of homelessness and in housing those who find themselves in emergency accommodation.
My Department also funds Threshold’s National Tenancy Protection Service, which has proven to be instrumental in preventing homelessness in the first instance and supporting people to remain in their homes.
The most effective way to increase exits from homelessness in the medium to long term is to increase supply, particularly of social housing, and to accelerate supply of housing over the next decade. Under Housing for All, the government’s national housing plan to 2030, the government is committed to providing 47,600 new-build social homes by the end of 2026, and 90,000 social homes by 2030. In terms of social housing delivery, last year, 9,183 new social homes were provided, a 17% increase on 2020. This year, there is a target to deliver 9,000 new build social homes, which will be delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies.
Following the success of the voids programme which delivered over 6000 units in 2020 and 2021, there is a new Voids programme for 2022 with an emphasis on quick turnaround and re-letting of vacant social housing stock to those on social housing waiting lists, including those in emergency accommodation.
Significant progress is already being made under Housing for All to accelerate supply and recent commencement figures are encouraging. All additional measures that we can take to address the rise in homelessness are being actively pursued.
