Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 580: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if an application (details supplied) has been received in his office; if said application is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23779/07]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department recoups to local authorities 90% of their approved current expenditure on the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons in accordance with the provisions of Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. Much of this expenditure is operationalised through projects managed by voluntary bodies.

My Department has received a proposal from Donegal County Council for Section 10 funding of a tenancy sustainment support service by a voluntary body. However, this service was to target existing local authority tenants rather than persons who are currently homeless. My Department has written to the Council advising that Section 10 funding for any tenancy sustainment service would normally be primarily directed at services targeting people who are currently homeless and living in emergency accommodation and in the process of being moved to independent living. In order to determine fully the need for such a service, the Council was advised to undertake a full evaluation of the number of homeless persons requiring such a service, including data on the number of persons who have become homeless as a result of losing their tenancy.

My Department has indicated to the County Council that other sources of funding such as the Sustainable Communities Fund or the Housing Management Initiative may be appropriate alternative sources of funding for a tenancy sustainment service for existing local authority tenants, as was proposed by the Council.