Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his questions. I heard Councillor Anthony Flynn regarding the Inner City Helping Homelessness report. I will read it. From the reports regarding its contents, the document has reached some concerning conclusions. I refer in particular to the fear that some members of our homeless community have in making complaints. That should not be the case. The prevalence of sexual assault and assault is also of great concern.

In Dublin, I have engaged with the Lord Mayor's task force, which includes Councillor Anthony Flynn and with Inner City Helping Homelessness. I will read the report and will engage with its contents further. Late last week, I met representatives of the Dublin Homeless Network, which represents more than 40 NGO providers. We also have our own homeless task force within the Department. I am acutely aware of how important standards are and that national standards be applied to private emergency accommodation, PEA, as well. That is crucially important and something which should happen.

I want to see a reduction in our dependence on PEA. Private accommodation came about because of the increase in homelessness several years ago. We must look at how we can exit from this situation. I met my Department's homeless task force regarding that aspect, and to ensure that inspections occur and standards are applied. I am assured by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive, DRHE, and others that the same standards are applied in respect of ensuring there is good quality accommodation and wrap-around supports. To be frank, those have been deficient. This is an area where I want to ensure, regardless of where someone is or whether he or she is in State-run or private accommodation, that there are the same standards, as there should be, in the quality of services, and particularly concerning wrap-around supports for people in the areas of addiction and mental health.

That is why in the winter plan, which will endure for the remainder of this year, the additional funding which we have secured from the HSE is to be used to put in place individual care plans for our homeless community. It is important that happens. We have a way to go on this issue. We have made progress, however, as I outlined at our previous meeting. We have seen a reduction of about 18% or 19% in homelessness overall year on year. In family and child homelessness, there has been a significant reduction of about 40%. Homelessness among single people, however, is an issue and the provision of accommodation in that area is definitely an issue. That is why I am focusing our resources, through our local authorities, on bringing vacant housing back into use. Our voids programme last year brought 3,607 units back into use. We will do that again this year.

However, we also want to ensure that the new developments we are building with our approved housing bodies, AHBs, and local authorities are built for community, in the sense that they will have a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units. I recently visited a fantastic restoration and renovation of a 19th century home on Haddington Road which is now being converted into 18 own-door single apartments. All of those will be for people who have been homeless for many years. Those apartments will be tenanted this year as well, within the next several months.

Much of that type of work is being done. We must look at the repair and lease scheme, as well, which the Peter McVerry Trust and others are using very well in the conversion of older commercial buildings into permanent accommodation for people. It is the number one priority for this Government.