Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

My Department’s role in respect of homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility regarding the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with the housing authorities. Expenditure on homeless accommodation and related services of approximately €50 million will be funded by my Department and housing authorities in 2013. While it is clear that a proportion of funding must be used to provide sufficient bed capacity to accommodate those in need of emergency accommodation, it is equally important that resources are channelled to deliver more permanent responses in a more focused and strategic way.

When I published the homelessness policy statement in February, I outlined the Government's aim to end long-term homelessness by the end of 2016.

The statement emphasises a housing-led approach which is about accessing permanent housing as the primary response to all forms of homelessness. The availability and supply of secure, affordable and adequate housing is essential in ensuring sustainable tenancies and ending long-term homelessness. A set of indicators will be used to demonstrate the dynamics of homelessness as it is addressed. These indicators will give a clearer picture of homelessness in Ireland and, in quantifying its ongoing extent, will support the introduction of realistic and practical solutions.

The arrangements for devolving funding to tackle homelessness to the lead housing authority in each of the nine regions in 2013 will seek to ensure the measures being pursued by housing authorities reflect the housing-led approach, that actions are in place to achieve the target of ending long-term homelessness by the end of 2016 and that evidence to support progress will be presented through the reports on the indicators.

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