Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

These amendments all deal with the subject of homeless action plans and in so doing return to an issue that was raised by a number of Senators on Second Stage and Committee Stage. It is an issue about which I, as Minister of State with responsibility for housing, am concerned also and that is why I published The Way Home in August 2008.

As I have indicated to Senators previously, The Way Home was launched after the publication of the Bill and therefore certain aspects, including those with statutory implications, were not sufficiently advanced to be comprehended by the Bill. I have indicated also that following on from the publication of the national implementation plan for the strategy, I propose to bring forward legislative provisions to place local homeless action plans on a statutory footing. These plans will provide the focus for locally sensitive and relevant action and will inform housing services plans and the wider delivery of housing supports, including the development of appropriate local housing allocation policies.

It is important to repeat that work on implementation has already begun. A circular has issued to all local authorities providing further details regarding action plans and advising authorities to commence work on updating their existing plans. The circular also advises authorities about their local homeless forum and the formation of the management group of the local homeless forum.

In addition, we are working on bringing forward necessary legislative provisions, in conjunction with the more broadly based implementation plan. It is envisaged in The Way Home that these plans, as well as containing an overall vision and objectives, would include output targets and timescales for achievement. The associated actions to be included in these plans must take account of the local situation as the experience of homelessness varies throughout the country.

I thank Senators for tabling amendments suggesting how the action plans might be put on a statutory footing. However, in light of the ongoing work, including on appropriate legislation that I have outlined, I ask them to withdraw their amendments.