Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 20: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on recent changes to homeless housing services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2528/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Implementation of the Government's Homeless Strategy will result in significant improvements in homeless services, involving action by a number of statutory and non-statutory agencies. At national level, a range of actions has been taken to ensure that implementation of the Homeless Strategy is firmly underpinned by a robust framework of policy, legislation, co-ordination and funding. Practical achievement of the objectives of the Strategy will ultimately be determined primarily by the performance and effectiveness of action by relevant agencies at local level which, in future, will operate within the new statutory framework of structures and action plans provided for in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009.

A core objective of the Homeless Strategy is to eliminate long term occupation of emergency or transitional homeless facilities and enable households to progress to independent living in mainstream housing. This is being pursued through a range of actions including provision of adequate social housing lettings to homeless households, reconfiguration of emergency or transitional facilities as self contained units of long-term accommodation and provision of additional sources of mainstream accommodation. Intensive work on all of these areas is progressing.

The Support to Live Independently Scheme (SLÍ), details of which issued to local authorities in July 2009, forms an important element of action to end long-term homelessness by providing suitable long term accommodation in mainstream housing with appropriate supports to help people make a successful transition from homelessness to independent living. It includes the use of accommodation procured through the Social Housing Leasing Scheme or available to local authorities in the form of affordable housing that is unsold or considered unlikely to sell in the current market, along with availability of low to moderate level visiting supports, on a reducing basis for a period, to help homeless households address the challenges likely to arise in making the progression to independent living.

Implementation of the scheme is proceeding, with the main focus initially on the Dublin area. This involves a three-stranded approach - sourcing of accommodation; assessment of households, formulation of their support plan and allocation of tenancies; and procurement and deployment of visiting housing support services for the purposes of the scheme. The various strands are proceeding broadly in parallel. The scheme will expand progressively in 2010 and all possible action will be taken to maximise progress, particularly in terms of securing accommodation.

The provision of appropriate facilities and supports for homeless people with more intensive needs is also a priority. The reconfiguration of existing homeless services will result in extending the availability of long term supported residential accommodation for people who are unable to live independently.