Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 221: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will deal with a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22209/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to the replies to Question No. 14 of 25 February 2010 and Question No. 168 of 1 April 2010, which set out the position generally regarding the implementation of the Government's Homeless Strategy and the Implementation Plan for the Strategy. As indicated in these replies a comprehensive range of measures has been put in place in the context of my Department's responsibility for policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities and approved housing bodies in addressing homelessness at local level. This includes an enhanced programme for procurement of accommodation, which was announced just before Easter, to advance the core strategic objective of eliminating long term homelessness and help housing authorities to meet their targets for accommodating homeless households. Delivery on this programme will be determined primarily by action on the part of the approved housing bodies and housing authorities and the response of market interests, including property owners and financial institutions.

The process of implementing the provisions of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 is also now well advanced, with the establishment of Regional Homelessness Consultative Fora and the development of statutory Homelessness Action Plans. These provisions further reinforce the role of the housing authorities, working with relevant statutory and non-statutory agencies, in the planning, implementation and oversight of homeless services and action to achieve the objectives of the homeless strategy.