Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has been in contact with the Health Service Executive or the Department of Health and Children regarding the funding for staff to operate homeless shelters that were constructed with funding from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20840/08]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his policy towards homelessness; if he is satisfied that it is tackling the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18701/08]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 455: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he is compiling interdepartmental proposals or research to tackle the issue of homelessness in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18703/08]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 457: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the status of the new national homeless strategy; if his Department has set a launch date for this strategy; when the launch date can be expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20976/08]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 461: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when the new national homeless strategy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21039/08]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 462: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in advance of the publication of the forthcoming national homeless strategy, a comprehensive agreement and commitments have been obtained by all statutory stakeholders on targets and budgets to fund the strategy's implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21040/08]

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 463: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if plans are underway at his Department to draft and deliver an implementation plan which would set out the way the targets in the forthcoming National Homeless Strategy will be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21041/08]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 478: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will publish the next national homeless strategy within the coming weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21191/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 95, 105, 455, 457, 461 to 463, inclusive, and 478 together.

Homelessness involves a complex interplay between personal, economic, social and structural issues and the Government is, therefore, committed to addressing homelessness in a comprehensive and coordinated manner. Significant progress has been made since the adoption of the Integrated Government Strategy on Homelessness in 2000. This has resulted in an improvement in both the quality and range of services for homeless persons, leading to a reduction in the number of persons classified as homeless.

There are a number of streams of funding which support the running costs of homeless services. My Department is responsible for accommodation and related costs for homeless persons and, under section 10 of the Housing Act 1988, recoups 90% of expenditure by local authorities for such purposes. Funding to local authorities under section 10 has increased significantly in recent years and, in 2008, the provision exceeds €53 million.

The funding of care-related costs for homeless services is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. Discussions have taken place at Ministerial level in relation to the provision of funding by the HSE for the opening or bringing into full operation of certain new homeless facilities and my officials are engaging with the HSE and Department of Health and Children to achieve a satisfactory resolution of the issues involved as quickly as possible.

To underpin future progress on homeless issues, a revised Government strategy on homelessness is being developed by my Department, under the aegis of the Cross Department Team on Homelessness with input from the National Homeless Consultative Committee, which includes representatives of local authorities, the HSE and voluntary bodies. The work of these groups helps to ensure a full and integrated response to the many needs and issues involved.

The strategy will aim to eliminate long term occupation of emergency homeless accommodation and the need to sleep rough by 2010, and will also address the prevention of homelessness, where possible. This builds on the commitments in both the Programme for Government and the social partnership agreement, Towards 2016. It will include specific national and local actions and will be implemented in accordance with timelines for the key objectives set out in the strategy, supported by a specific implementation plan to be put in place following the strategy's publication.

I expect the revised strategy to be submitted to Government shortly, with publication to follow as soon as possible thereafter.