Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position in relation to the Homeless Strategy Implementation Plan; if it is currently being produced by his Department; if it will be submitted to the Cabinet in November 2008; and if it will be approved by Cabinet before Christmas 2008. [36443/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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A new Government strategy on homelessness, The Way Home: A Strategy to Address Adult Homelessness in Ireland 2008-2013, was published in August 2008. The strategy builds on the strong progress made under previous strategies and sets out a vision to address adult homelessness over the next five years.

It was developed under the aegis of a Cross Departmental Team, which comprises representatives from the relevant Government Departments and agencies and in consultation with the National Homeless Consultative Committee, which includes representatives from homeless service providers, both statutory and voluntary.

The strategy sets outs a range of actions under each of its six strategic aims, together with implementation targets and timescales for the most significant actions. These will form the basis of a more detailed implementation plan being developed under the aegis of the Cross Departmental Team on Homelessness, which will assign lead roles and specific timelines with emphasis on the need to maximise efficiency, value for money and organisational and financial streamlining. Work on the implementation plan is under way and submissions have been requested from organisations represented on the Cross Departmental Team and on the National Homeless Consultative Committee. I expect the Implementation Plan to be finalised by end 2008.