Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)

I move amendment No. 32:

In page 20, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following:

"(2) (a) For the purposes of this Act a "homeless person" shall be defined as -

(i) a person who has no accommodation available to them other than a night shelter, a public place or external space,

(ii) a person who has no accommodation available to them other than a homeless hostel, transitional or temporary accommodation, sheltered accommodation; a person who has been released from state institutions such as penal, medical or care institutions; a person who has had to leave or cannot remain in their home due to domestic violence,

(iii) a person who has no accommodation available to them other than temporary accommodation with family or friends; illegal occupation of land; subject to legal orders to quit rented accommodation or repossession orders of privately owned accommodation; temporary structures, dwellings unfit for habitation or dwellings deemed by the housing authority as overcrowded, or

(iv) a person who in the opinion of the authority, is unable to provide accommodation from their own resources or is occupying accommodation which is inadequate or insecure.

(b) For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that a person who had to leave or cannot remain in the home because of domestic violence is considered homeless.

(c) A person homeless by reason of domestic violence is eligible for the Priority Housing List under Exceptional Social Grounds.".

This amendment defines "homeless person". At the risk of sounding repetitive, the absence of homelessness from the original Bill has almost become folklore. In fairness to the Minister of State, the guard has changed since the Bill was first published and as a result homelessness has been included. I commend him on taking on board the views of homeless groups and engaging with the MakeRoom campaign. However, while he has made amendments to the Bill following these consultations he has not remedied certain omissions.

I concur with the assertions of the MakeRoom campaign and homeless agencies that any strategy aimed at eliminating homelessness will have to begin by setting out a definition in legislation. It would be a glaring omission if we failed to define homelessness because local authorities will refer to the Bill. Local authority members are regularly faced with disputed figures on the numbers of homeless people in various parts of the country. My amendment would rectify that problem. As well as counting people who are living on the streets or in temporary arrangements, it offers a framework for eradicating homelessness.

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