John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Joan Collins is correct in what she stated regarding the current weather conditions. I even found it very cold walking in here at this time of the evening, and it will get colder. It is important that beds are available for rough sleepers. As the Deputy stated, that is often because they do not, for various reasons, engage with the system in normal weather conditions. I am told by the Department that there is capacity in the system to provide beds tonight for the rough sleepers in Dublin.

On the issue of the four telephone calls, I accept the Deputy's point that there may be faults in the system. I have no problem trying to get to the bottom of that but the capacity is in the system and the DRHE has done good work in the past 12 months, and prior to that, to ensure that the number of rough sleepers has dropped dramatically in the four Dublin local authorities, but that is no consolation to the 158 people Deputy Joan Collins mentioned earlier.

Last year, the Government provided €60 million in capital funding to local authorities and other agencies for the delivery of emergency accommodation for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. In this year's budget, the Government announced funding of €146 million - a 25% increase - to support the provision of emergency accommodation but also other services delivered by local authorities to support those experiencing homelessness. While the figure for rough sleepers in Dublin has moved in the right direction in the past 18 months, in view of the fact that in excess of 150 people are still rough sleeping, I acknowledge that a lot of work remains to be done.

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