Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 16:

In page 16, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following:

"19. —Each housing authority shall establish a local homeless forum within its administrative area for the purposes of developing and implementing a local homeless action plan. Each local homeless forum shall include approved bodies involved in the provision of housing and homeless services within the administrative area. Within 12 months of the passing of this bill, the local authority shall adopt a local homeless action plan. The plan shall be produced by the local homeless forum in each administrative area and shall:

(a) contain measures for the prevention of homelessness; the elimination of rough sleeping; the elimination of long term homelessness; the meeting of long term housing needs; the provision of effective provision of services for homeless people; co-ordinated funding arrangements;

(b) contain an overall vision, objectives, actions, output targets, timescales for achievement, indicative costs and proposed funding arrangements;

(c) be formally reviewed by the homeless forum on an annual basis;

(d) cover a three year period;

(e) in its preparation, approval, purpose, scope and structure be consistent with policies aimed at eliminating long term homelessness; minimizing the risk of a person becoming homeless through effective preventative policies and services; ensure when a person becomes homeless they are assisted into appropriate long term housing.".