Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022
488. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated cost of providing family hubs for families experiencing homelessness in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29164/22]
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 local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities.
While responsibility for the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual housing authorities, the administration of homeless services is organised on a regional basis with a lead authority in place for each region. A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. Decisions on the range of emergency accommodation services, including family hubs, and funding required in each region are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum. It is a matter for the Management Group to bring forward proposals to my Department that meet the needs of homeless families and individuals in their administrative area and the funding requirements for 2023 will be considered in this context.
Financial reports from each of the regions, setting out expenditure incurred on homeless services in 2021 are available and published on my Department's website at the following link: www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data.
