Written answers

Tuesday, 23 September 2014

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Homelessness Strategy

Photo of Michael KittMichael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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482. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a proposal to build prefabs on derelict sites in County Dublin for homeless families; if he has considered permanent accommodation for families, perhaps using timber-frame construction which could be provided quickly in areas with homelessness and housing waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35246/14]

Photo of Michael KittMichael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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484. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ring-fence funding for emergency accommodation for homelessness; if he will reinstate the night bus for people who are sleeping rough; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35275/14]

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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492. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons who are now in emergency accommodation provided by local authorities having lost their private accommodation which had been paid for with rent supplement. [35341/14]

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 482, 484 and 492 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.

While it is clear that a proportion of funding must be used to provide sufficient bed capacity to accommodate those in need of emergency accommodation it is equally important that resources are channelled to deliver more permanent responses to homelessness in a focused and strategic way.

The level of funding available to housing authorities in 2015 for housing programmes including homelessness is currently being considered in the context of the Estimates process. In light of budgetary demands, I am working with my colleagues in Government to ensure that appropriate funding priority continues to be attached to homelessness.

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 Homelessness was 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,



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.

Based on data recorded on the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (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. A copy of this report is available on my Department's website at the link provided above.

Bringing vacant local authority properties back into productive use as quickly as possible is one of the critical actions in the implementation plan and steps are being taken across the country to bring 1,800 such units into use before year end.

Other suitable vacant residential properties in State ownership are also being considered to be brought into productive use as quickly as possible. Some large sites in Dublin City have been identified by key State stakeholders including OPW, the Department of Defence, and the HSE and these are being considered by Dublin City Council. I understand that proposals on the use of prefabricated units are also being considered by the City Council; in the event that the Council submits formal proposals in this regard, these will require careful consideration by my Department. The use of construction innovations, such as timber-framed housing, could be also considered for meeting immediate need on sites that become available.

The Homelessness Policy Implementation Team charged with overseeing and monitoring the delivery of actions outlined in the Government's implementation plan has been considering this matter further and options are being considered to alleviate the immediate problems in the Dublin region.

The supply of housing more generally will be addressed in the short to medium term by the actions being progressed in the Construction 2020 Strategy and will be strengthened further through the Social Housing Strategy which I expect will be finalised in the coming weeks.

I understand that the night bus previously operated by Dublin City Council and which picked up rough sleepers and transported them to emergency accommodation was discontinued in 2011. This issue is being considered further by the Homelessness Policy Implementation Team.

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