Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 603: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he will convene a national consultative committee to guide the development of a new national homelessness strategy; the length of time it will take this committee to complete its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4858/07]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Independent Review of Implementation of Homeless Strategies, published last year, examined the implementation of the Government's Integrated and Preventative Homeless Strategies and concluded that they should be amalgamated and updated. The Government have accepted the broad thrust of the recommendations of the Review and work is underway on the preparation of a revised and updated Strategy on Homelessness, which will be published later this year.

As part of this process, a National Homeless Consultative Committee is being established under the aegis of the Housing Forum which was set up under the social partnership process. The Consultative Committee, including representatives from the providers of local homeless services, will provide input into the development of the revised homeless strategy and ongoing Government policy on addressing homelessness. Nominations for membership of the Committee will be sought shortly and I anticipate that the first meeting of the Committee will be held next month. While the initial task of the Committee will be to provide input into the finalisation of the revised homeless strategy which will be published later this year, I anticipate that the Committee will continue to meet periodically thereafter, in order to provide an ongoing input into the development and monitoring of Government policy on homelessness.