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

I reiterate that the responsibility for the provision of homeless services is with the housing authority in each of the local authorities. We provide the policy framework and funding for them to do it. That is important because each local authority and its staff know an area better than a central authority would. The issue is acute in Dublin because that is where the majority of homeless people present. Dublin also contains the majority of homeless services.

I regularly meet with representatives of the DRHE, Dublin City Council and others on this matter. Standards are applied to private emergency accommodation. They are parallel standards to the NQSF. I have discussed with the DRHE the benefit that would potentially accrue from applying those standards across the board. We need to get there. It is a detailed and complex process. We have improved the services in PEAs. I believe that the standards and services anyone in emergency accommodation receives should be the same regardless of which type of accommodation a person is in. It is something at which I am actively looking. The Deputy has showed a particular interest in this area and has regularly questioned me about it. I have taken those matters up with the DRHE and I will report progress to him.

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