Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

205. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will support matters (details supplied) regarding homelessness and climate change. [36158/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

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,

.

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.

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 relation to climate change, the Government approved the General Scheme of the Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Billin April 2014. The Bill, which is listed among the Bills expected to be published during the Autumn Sessionin the Government’s Legislation Programme, is currently being drafted within the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. Once the Bill is approved by Government, my objective is to introduce it and progress its passage through the Oireachtas as quickly as possible, with a view to enactment by the end of 2014, as set out in the Statement of Government Priorities 2014-2016.

With particular regard to greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, the National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development, published in April 2014, commits Ireland to a long-term vision of low-carbon transition based on, inter alia, an approach to carbon neutrality in the agriculture and land-use sector, including forestry, which does not compromise capacity for sustainable food production.