Written answers

Tuesday, 28 March 2006

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Homeless Persons

11:00 pm

Photo of John DeasyJohn Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 525: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of homeless people under the age of 18 years and over the age of 18 years in each county; and the hostels and accommodation available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12280/06]

Photo of Noel AhernNoel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The results of the March 2005 housing needs assessment regarding homelessness are being finalised by my Department. It is anticipated that the results of this assessment will be published in the Department's annual housing statistics bulletin. This information will include a breakdown of the numbers of homeless adults and children, respectively, by county.

Policy on homelessness among persons of under 18 years of age is primarily the responsibility of the Department of Health and Children in the context of the Government's youth homelessness strategy. Local authorities are responsible for meeting the accommodation needs of homeless persons. It is consequently a matter for individual authorities to determine the level of accommodation to be provided, having regard to the need for such accommodation within their areas. My Department recoups to local authorities 90% of their expenditure on the provision of accommodation related services for homeless persons in accordance with the provisions of section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. Expenditure in this regard in the period 2000-05 came to €230 million. However, my Department does not maintain a comprehensive listing of hostel and other accommodation provision for homeless persons in each individual local authority area.

The independent review of the implementation of homeless strategies, which I published recently and copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library, examined the implementation of the Government's integrated and preventative homeless strategies and concluded that they should be amalgamated and revised. The review acknowledges that, while emergency accommodation, such as hostels, is largely sufficient in the major urban centres, it should continue to be provided to address outstanding requirements in other areas. The Government has accepted the broad thrust of the recommendations of the review and work has commenced on the preparation of a revised and updated strategy on homelessness, having regard to the recommendations of the independent review.

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