Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. The Department’s role regarding homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in the provision of homeless services rests with individual local authorities. The named organisation informed the Dublin Region Homeless Executive, DRHE, and the Department of potential financial issues in the organisation in July 2023. The organisation also advised that it had separately informed the Charities Regulator and the AHB Regulator, AHBRA. The Department and the DRHE formed an oversight group chaired by an independent governance and legal expert to review the financial and governance issues raised and to advise the Minister accordingly. The DRHE also appointed PwC to undertake a review. Preliminary and final reports were provided to the oversight group. Following the oversight group's review of the recommendations from PwC, the Minister received a letter from the chair of the group. Having considered the contents of the chair's letter and the information provided, the Minister's priority was to ensure that the services provided to homeless individuals and families would continue uninterrupted. In this regard, proposals for the provision of funding on an exceptional basis were considered by Government. On 28 November, the Government approved funding on an exceptional basis of up to €15 million to be paid to the named organisation. Funding may be paid between December 2023 and 31 March 2024 on a phased basis, subject to the provision of relevant information. Funding is also conditional on the named organisation complying with a range of conditions related to financial management and governance.

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