Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 518: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the practice of housing families with children in bed and breakfast accommodation other than for emergencies will end; and if he will ensure that their stay is no longer than one month before more appropriate accommodation is secured. [38077/05]

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 519: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he is taking to provide move-on accommodation for families leaving emergency and bed and breakfast accommodation. [38078/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 518 and 519 together.

Local authorities and the Health Service Executive are responsible for meeting the accommodation and health care needs of homeless persons. It is, therefore, a matter for individual authorities to determine the level of bed and breakfast accommodation to be provided, having regard to the need for such accommodation within their areas.

While the use of bed and breakfast accommodation is seen at present as essential for the provision of emergency accommodation, it is recognised that it is not suitable as a long-term solution to homeless accommodation and that its use should be phased out, particularly for families. I am concerned to ensure that high standards prevail in the operation of the sector and that it is used only as a short term response to homelessness. At the request of my Department, Dublin City Council, which is a major user of bed and breakfast accommodation, and the Homeless Agency are conducting an ongoing review of this type of accommodation. This has led to increased monitoring, improved co-ordination and better management practice within the Dublin area. The council is continuing to address the issue so that continuous improvement of services will be offered to those whose needs dictate that it is the most suitable type of accommodation for them at a particular point in time.

While the emphasis was initially on the provision of emergency accommodation options, there is now general agreement that there is sufficient emergency accommodation available for those who wish to avail of it and the emphasis must now move to more long term solutions. My Department recoups to local authorities 90% of their expenditure on the provision of accommodation related services for homeless persons, including those in move-on accommodation. In 2004, recoupment was made in respect of 586 move-on units.

In addition, if it is suitable in individual circumstances to do so, accommodation can be accessed for formerly homeless persons by means of social housing units provided directly by local authorities or voluntary bodies. Units can also be sourced in the private sector by users of homeless services themselves, by resettlement services provided by the statutory and voluntary services and by the housing access unit operated by Threshold on behalf of the Homeless Agency.

Renewed focus is now being placed on the provision of long term accommodation together with the supports necessary to enable homeless persons to move into independent living. Local authorities are being urged to address this issue both with regard to their own accommodation and in discussions with the voluntary sector active in the housing area. Initiatives currently being undertaken in a number of areas in terms of provision of tenancy sustainment services will assist in this process. I am confident that we will see a significant increase in assistance to homeless persons under these headings in the future.

The funding available from my Department for recoupment to local authorities of costs incurred in the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons in 2005 amounts to €51 million. This brings to €240 million the total funding available from my Department for this purpose since the implementation of the integrated strategy in 2000. In addition, some €106 million was provided by the Department of Health and Children for care related services in the same period.