Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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1518. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the fact that it is claimed that six new people become homeless each day, his plans to end homelessness by 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33582/14]

Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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1546. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the number of people who are homeless in County Meath; the body which is charged with keeping a count on the number of people who are homeless; if he will provide the numbers for each of the years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34036/14]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1592. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to deal with the challenge of homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34525/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1518, 1546 and 1592 together.

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 individual housing authorities and the purposes for which housing authorities may incur expenditure in addressing homelessness are prescribed in Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988.

Traditionally it has been difficult to quantify the number of homeless persons on an ongoing basis; this is in part a consequence of the volatility within this cohort of housing need. In February 2013, at the time of publication of the Government’s Homelessness Policy Statement,a set of indicators was identified to be used to demonstrate the dynamics of homelessness as it is addressed. These indicators will give a clearer picture of homelessness in Ireland and, in quantifying its ongoing extent, will support the implementation of realistic and practical solutions. The Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS) is now operational nationwide and will assist lead housing authorities in each of the 9 regions to report on these indicators. 2014 will be the first year for which PASS will produce composite national data on homelessness. Quarterly reports from lead housing authorities are being published on my Department's website as soon as these are available. Reports in respect of the first 2 quarters are available at, .

Based on data recorded on PASS, a recent survey of lead housing authorities confirmed that 2,509 unique individuals utilised Section 10 funded emergency accommodation nationally during the week of 14 to 20 July 2014, and 23 of these individuals were recorded for County Meath. A copy of this report is available on my Department's website at the link provided above.

Prior to the full implementation of PASS the most complete set of data available in relation to homelessness nationally is the Central Statistics Office’s special Census report, Homeless Persons in Ireland, which was published on 6 September 2012. This report indicated that a total of 64 individuals were sleeping rough on Census night, 10 April 2011, while identifying a further 3,744 people as housed in accommodation defined as emergency, transitional or long-term. Of the total of 3,808 individuals included in the report almost 60% were in long-term or transitional housing arrangements. This report is available on CSO's website, .

In February 2013, the Government’s Homelessness Policy Statementwas published in which the aim to end long-term homelessness by the end of 2016 was outlined. The statement emphasises a housing-led approach, which is focused on accessing permanent housing as the primary response to all forms of homelessness. The availability and supply of secure, affordable and adequate housing is essential in ensuring sustainable tenancies and ending long-term homelessness.

On 20 May 2014, the Implementation Plan on the State's Response to Homelessnesswas published in which the Government's approach to delivery on its objective of ending involuntary long-term homelessness by the end of 2016 was outlined. A copy of this plan is available on my Department's website at the link provided above.

This plan sets out a range of measures to secure a ring-fenced supply of accommodation to house homeless households within the next three years and mobilise the necessary supports. Progress in implementing the plan is reported quarterly through the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and a copy of the Quarter 2 Progress Report is also available on my Department's website at the link provided above.