Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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39. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce legislation that places an obligation on local authorities to provide families who become homeless with access to emergency accommodation, rather than merely placing an obligation on them to assess these families, as is the case presently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22069/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Under the Housing Act 1988, it is a matter for the housing authority concerned to determine whether a person is regarded as homeless. Any person regarded as homeless by a housing authority may be placed into temporary emergency accommodation, which the housing authority may arrange itself or which may be operated by a State-funded service provider, without the requirement to undergo a social housing assessment and be approved for social housing supports. I am not considering any amendment to the existing arrangements which give housing authorities the flexibility that is essential to respond quickly and effectively to the various needs of cases that may present to them.