Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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1073. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the actions his Department is taking in response to recent reports by ALONE, that one older person became homeless every three days in March 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17281/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, 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. Under section 10 of the Housing Act 1988, statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual housing authorities.

The Government’s Homelessness Policy Statement, which was published in February 2013, outlines the Government's aim to end long-term homelessness by the end of 2016. A range of measures are being taken to secure a ring-fenced supply of accommodation to house homeless households and mobilise the necessary supports in order to deliver on the Government's target of ending involuntary long-term homelessness. These measures have been identified in the Government's Implementation Plan on the State's Response to Homelessness(May 2014) and in the Action Plan to Address Homelessness(December 2014). Progress in implementing these plans is reported through the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform. The plans and progress reports are available on my Department's website at the following link:

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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1074. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of meetings he has attended since January 2015 at which the the increasing number of homeless persons was considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19223/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Sector Reform, which is chaired by the Taoiseach, meets generally on a monthly basis and the issue of homelessness has been an agenda item at each meeting to date in 2015.

In addition, both I and my Department liaise with Government Departments, State Agencies, local authorities and a range of stakeholders on an ongoing basis in relation to homelessness issues.