Mr. David Kelly:

I have a colleague who is responsible for matters relating to homelessness, but I know there has been work done on PEA. The Dublin Region Homeless Executive, DRHE, would always prefer to set up services led by NGOs. The issue arises when the numbers rise and the NGO services or the properties are not available. In that case, PEA is frequently used. The DRHE has been looking to apply the same sets of standards in PEA. The national quality standards framework that was in place for local authorities and NGOs for quite a while has been implemented in PEA. This is really about ensuring that an equivalent level of service is provided in an NGO-led service. Work in that regard has been under way. The DRHE had appointed a development officer to ensure that those same applicable standards were being introduced into PEA in order that people experiencing homelessness were getting the same level of service and treatment, whether from an NGO-led service or from private emergency accommodation.