John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister. It is important to note that emergency accommodation and homelessness services are organised on a regional basis. In the west region there are four local authorities, namely Galway City Council, Galway County Council, Mayo County Council and Roscommon County Council involved but Galway City Council is the lead authority. I am concerned that additional resources, both human and financial, have not been provided to Galway City Council to carry out that role. I am aware that staff within the housing section of the council feel that they require additional staff in the areas of emergency accommodation and homeless services, as well as an increase in sustainable tenancy officers. I ask the Minister to examine that. Given that Galway City Council is the regional lead in the west region for homelessness and emergency accommodation provision, the Minister might consider providing additional staff to cover that area.

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