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

We have discussed this matter a number of times. I am glad the Deputy continues to highlight it. I have established the national homeless action committee, as he knows. I want standards in this area, especially private emergency accommodation, dealt with. The Deputy mentioned the DRHE's new standards for emergency accommodation, which focus on private emergency accommodation. They are an adaptation of the national quality standards framework, NQSF, standards.

It is a question of their application and of the wraparound services. I was on outreach myself recently and, from talking to people who are out on the ground, I believe that we may not have the same level of wraparound services in some private emergency accommodation as we have in the State-run sector. That needs to be addressed. The situation is improving on where it was. I know that from talking to practitioners on the ground and from going out with the outreach teams.

To be honest, we can do better in that space. That is why I am very focused on the homelessness action committee, which is not just made up of officials from my Department. That is very important. It also includes representatives from the Departments of Justice and Health and I chair it. All of the main NGOs have also agreed to be part of it. That is a standing committee within Government. The new standards are welcome but it is a question of their application. If there is an easier way to do it, perhaps through the standards being applied directly by HIQA, I am not opposed to that. I want to get there. I have been told that the lead-in time to do that would be quite extensive. I have to work with partners to see how we can do that.

Obviously, we all want to see a reduction in the use of emergency accommodation. We have changes in the demographics of the individuals and families who are accessing emergency accommodation, which makes it quite difficult to plan with regard to our capacity. That is why it is important that the Departments of Health and Justice, Tusla and others are involved in this process. I chair the committee myself. We have to ensure that all of those people have security, standards and wraparound services. I met a gentleman last week who will not go into hostels in Dublin. He had been beaten up twice. When he was sleeping out in Dublin, he was beaten up for a cigarette. I have visited really good own-room hostels that have their own lockers, good services and nurses and doctors on board but not every hostel is at that standard. It is our challenge to achieve that. Our real challenge is to make sure the young lad I met last week has a safe place to live. He is working away. There are others with very complex needs. That is why the expansion of Housing First is also really important.