Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for this question. One of the key commitments made in Rebuilding Ireland is that we will support homeless families and children to exit homelessness into independent tenancies. For homeless families residing in emergency accommodation, the long-term solution is to increase and accelerate the supply of homes. Rebuilding Ireland seeks to achieve this and in the period to 2021 some 50,000 social housing homes will be delivered. On child homelessness, a key objective is to cease using commercial hotels to accommodate homeless families, except in limited circumstances. I am committed to achieving this objective and continue to work with a range of partners to get to a point where families presenting to a housing authority as homeless will not have to rely on hotel accommodation.

Regarding the activities my Department and I are undertaking to address child homelessness, we are working with local authorities to accelerate the delivery of social housing for those who need it and while these more permanent housing solutions are being put in place, we are working with local authorities to deliver family hubs which are a first response only but do provide more suitable, safe and supported family living arrangements. Twelve hubs, providing 300 units of family accommodation, are operational and seven more, to accommodated more than 160 families, will be operational by the end of the year. More will follow in 2018.

On the provision of supports for homeless families in emergency accommodation, I liaise on a regular basis with my colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and the Dublin Region Homeless Executive to ensure robust child protection measures, inspection arrangements and health supports are in place in emergency accommodation for families. I have also met the Ombudsman for Children and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commissioner to discuss issues in connection with homeless families. I will continue to work with all stakeholders on a sustained basis with a view to addressing family and child homelessness.

See this speech in context