Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 272: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide the necessary funding to secure the continuation of homeless services at a location (details supplied); if he will outline the discussion that his Department has had with the relevant local authority since he met with the homeless service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42369/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Funding provided by my Department in this context relates to the recoupment of 90% of approved expenditure by housing authorities on accommodation for homeless persons, with the balance being funded from housing authorities' own resources. The HSE has responsibility for funding in relation to health and care services for homeless persons.

Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with the housing authorities and decisions relating to particular services funded by them are matters for the relevant housing authorities in the first instance. The purposes for which housing authorities may incur expenditure in addressing homelessness are prescribed in Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. It is a matter for each housing authority to consider, having regard to needs, priorities and resources, what services should be funded, whether directly or through arrangements with non-statutory service providers, and to ensure that funding to address homelessness is appropriately and effectively used. In addition, under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, the Management Group of the Homelessness Consultative Forum may make recommendations to housing authorities regarding services to address homelessness and funding for such services, taking into account the financial resources that are available or are likely to be available.

Key criteria in the context of funding of homeless services include evidence of need and priority, having regard to the national homelessness strategy and regional action plans, the overall amount of resources available, and the objective of achieving the best possible outcome for homeless people.

I understand that the service in question is currently receiving funding from the relevant housing authority and proposals to increase the service to 24 hours and from 8 to 16 beds have been agreed. Agreement for additional funding for the increased service has been finalised between my Department and the housing authority concerned. The necessary approval has now issued.