Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2022
415. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a local authority can refuse a person access to homeless accommodation by reason of failing to provide a safety or legal reason for homelessness. [37539/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra416. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the criteria that a local authority can assess a person’s application for homelessness; and the documentation that needs to be provided by a person who is seeking homeless accommodation, having left their family home. [37540/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra417. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he believes that it is appropriate to refuse homeless accommodation to a person who has a letter from a parent confirming that they can no longer stay in the family home and has no other means of accommodation. [37541/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra418. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the options that must be, and should be, available to a person who has been refused access to homeless accommodation. [37542/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra419. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the cases of some local authorities refusing individuals access to emergency accommodation due to the fact that they cannot provide a legal reason for homelessness. [37544/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 415 to 419, inclusive, together.
Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities. 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 local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level.
Under the Housing Act 1988 it is a matter for each local authority to determine whether a person is homeless; section 2 of the Act sets out the requirements in this regard. This allows local authorities to provide an immediate response to ensure households are provided with the accommodation and supports required while the ultimate aim is to work with households to exit homelessness in the shortest timeframe possible. When a household has been assessed as homeless, section 10 of the Housing Act 1988, provides that a local authority may provide accommodation and related services to that household.
Any household assessed as homeless may be placed into temporary emergency accommodation without the requirement to undergo a social housing assessment, allowing local authorities the flexibility that is essential to respond quickly and effectively to the various needs of cases that may arise. Local authorities also assess applications for social housing supports, ensuring housing supports are available to households unable to meet their accommodation needs from their own resources.
