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

On the issue of student accommodation, many changes have been made in that area since Rebuilding Ireland was launched. It is an issue of supply, like every other form of housing. We are intervening in the area of supply and are attempting to dramatically increase the amount of student accommodation. I do not have the specific figures for Galway because it was not part of the Deputy's original question, but I am happy to engage with her on the issue. We are trying to put our educational stakeholders in a better position so that housing can be delivered. Student accommodation must be sorted out, but it also reflects the overall housing market.

Exchequer funding is provided to housing authorities on a regional basis towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services. Under the funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources. Housing authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homelessness-related services outside the funding arrangements with my Department. Therefore, the exact amounts spent by housing authorities on homeless services, as well as the types of accommodation and the service providers engaged, are a matter for those authorities, as are many such contractual issues.

Galway city and county is included in the west region, along with counties Mayo and Roscommon, for the purposes of homelessness administration, with Galway city as the lead authority for the region. Reflecting the position at national level, the funding provided to the western region has been increased significantly in recent years from €1.7 million in 2015 to €2.37 million in 2016 and €3.79 million in 2017. To date in 2018, just under €100,000 has been drawn down by the western region, and I expect this to increase significantly in the coming months. In this regard, my Department has advised the region, and all regions, that funding will be provided for all required homeless services as the year progresses.

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