Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the number of voluntary organisations dealing with the homeless here; the funding allocated to each organisation for 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14142/13]

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 for homeless persons rests with the housing authorities . T he purposes for which housing authorities may incur expenditure in addressing homelessness are prescribed in Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988.

My Department does not fund any service directly but recoups , to local authorities , 90% of the cost of the service provided with an additional 10% coming from the local authorities ' own resources. Up to 50 different organisations provide emergency services throughout the country. The bulk of Section 10 funding from my Department goes towards the cost s incurred in the provision of accommodation services by the voluntary sector providers who have built up the services over the years. In addition, Departmental funding is used to support day drop-in centres, food services, outreach services, settlement and tenancy sustainment services and the cost of local authority and voluntary sector staff costs. The funding provided, through local authorities to these voluntary sector providers in 2012 is set out in the table below.