Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question. Every single death in this regard is tragic and a loss to a family, as well as the support network looking after those individuals and the many committed volunteers working in homeless services.

Tackling homelessness is an absolute priority for me. Since taking office, as I just said to Deputy Cian O'Callaghan, I have met a wide range of stakeholders and have established the high-level homelessness task force which I chair. I have also engaged regularly with the Minister for Health, given the linkages with the health services, along with homelessness charities and NGOs and tenancy advocates. That helps to inform not just policy but action every day and what is required across cities and towns.

There have been several tragic deaths in recent months of individuals who have been accessing homeless services. It is vital we continue to deliver the appropriate measures to ensure that all individuals experiencing homelessness are supported to exit homelessness into permanent housing solutions. The programme for Government includes measures targeted at the complex needs of many of those experiencing homelessness. These include measures to help rough sleepers into sustainable accommodation, the continued expansion of Housing First, as well as a focus on the construction and indeed acquisition of one-bedroom homes. I have specifically asked our local authorities, through the housing agencies, to acquire any additional one-bedroom properties that may be on the market this year.

Importantly, we must ensure the necessary health and mental health supports are provided to assist homeless people with complex needs. The provision of addiction and mental health supports features prominently in the discussions which I am having with my task force and in my bilateral meetings with the Minister for Health. The task force will continue to focus on the Government's homelessness response as a matter of absolute priority.

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