Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if there are any plans to close a facility (details supplied) in Dublin 8; if yes, the reason for the closure of this youth homeless facility; and where the young persons currently availing of this facility will be placed. [11021/13]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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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. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with the housing authorities, in this instance Dublin City Council. My Department has no function, nor is it involved in, decisions on operational matters. I recently published a Homelessness Policy Statement in which there is an explicit emphasis on a housing-led approach as the primary response to homelessness. This should reduce the amount of time spent in homeless services, in particular bed and breakfast accommodation, eliminate the need to sleep rough and place prevention at the forefront of the delivery of services.