Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Pringle for raising this issue and I apologise for being late.

As the Deputy will be aware, the housing action plan, Rebuilding Ireland, which was launched this week sets out what we are trying to do in this area. We are trying to end the type of situations highlighted by the Deputy. I understand that the Deputy wants an urgent solution to the issue he highlighted but what we are trying to do in terms of the plan is deal with housing issues for everybody so that we can prevent homelessness into the future.

It is widely acknowledged that accommodating families in commercial hotels is inappropriate for anything other than a short period. This is not acceptable and we must do all we can to prevent it. One of the many objectives of the Government's new action plan for housing and homelessness launched earlier this week is that by mid-2017 hotels will only be used for emergency accommodation in very limited circumstances and not at all, if possible. The intention is to is to move the existing group of families out of hotels as quickly as possible and to limit the extent to which such accommodation is used for new presentations. The plan provides for early solutions to address this challenge, including the provision of the provision of 1,500 rapid-delivery units, some 1,600 vacant units to be sourced by the housing agency and the transition of homeless households from emergency into independent tenancies through the Dublin region pilot of the housing assistance payment. Some 550 tenancies are to be delivered in 2016 and 1,200 in 2017. The plan also contains a range of additional services and supports which will be put in place for families in emergency accommodation, such as the families mentioned by Deputy Pringle, including dedicated workers, home-school community liaison, free public transport for family outings and for journeys to school, access to crèches and advice on cooking and nutrition. Ultimately, however, the key to addressing family homelessness is to supply more houses.

In forming the current Government, we were determined that this challenge would be addressed, fully and finally, and so it was positioned as a key element in the programme for a partnership Government. The publication this week of Rebuilding Ireland, well within the timeframe of 100 days set out in the Government programme, underpins our commitment to ending the housing shortage and addressing homelessness. 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.

In accordance with section 37(2) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, statutory responsibility for the provision of homeless services, including accommodation, rests with individual housing authorities. All housing authorities have wide and flexible statutory powers to assist or make arrangements for the accommodation of homeless persons. This means that operational issues, such as those raised by Deputy Pringle, are a matter for the relevant housing authority, in this case, Dublin City Council. I am informed by Dublin City Council that the hotel in question is but one of many being utilised to provide emergency accommodation to homeless families. I also understand that the hotel in question is, as pointed out by Deputy Pringle, in receivership and that vacant possession is being sought by the receiver as part of that process. I am informed that Dublin City Council is seeking to negotiate an extension of the date for vacant possession with the receiver. This would allow the Dublin Region Homeless Executive additional time to put appropriate alternative arrangements in place for the affected households. These arrangements include sourcing alternative accommodation and support services for the families, such as key workers, which as Deputy Pringle said were promised but have not been delivered. I will make inquiries with regard to that matter and will communicate with the Deputy tomorrow. I am hopeful that these discussions will reach a favourable conclusion shortly. I am conscious that Saturday is the deadline for some of the families and I have asked Dublin City Council to keep me informed of developments in the matter.

On the Deputy's proposal that the hotel be leased, I will discuss that with my departmental officials later this evening. There is logic to the idea. We are trying to look at all available solutions in the weeks and months ahead. While we are confident that we can deal with this issue and have everybody out of hotel accommodation in a year, the latter is 12 months away. We need to find other solutions. I will inquire if the Deputy's proposal is an option. I am not sure if it is but I will raise it. It is certainly worth checking out. As I said I will communicate with the Deputy tomorrow in respect of the key workers and so on.

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