Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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585. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to report on what measures he has directed local authorities to take in relation to working with those at risk of homelessness, as was standard practice before the enormous increases in persons experiencing homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33173/15]

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. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. 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:

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These Plans represent a whole-of-Government approach to dealing with homelessness and the implementation of measures identified in these plans is being overseen by a group of senior officials drawn from key State agencies concerned including my Department, the Departments of Social Protection, Health, and Children & Youth Affairs, the Health Service Executive, Tusla (the Child and Family Agency), the Irish Prison Service and housing authorities.

A range of actions contribute towards homelessness prevention including the tenancy sustainment services funded by many housing authorities, the various ongoing public awareness campaigns, including the programme being implemented by the Private Residential Tenancies Board, and the Department of Social Protection’s Interim Tenancy Sustainment Protocol and National Tenancy Sustainment Framework.