Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left)
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54. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views that the modular housing proposals are an adequate enough response to this humanitarian crises, given that over 700 families and over 1,500 children are now living in emergency accommodation and hotels; and given that up to one family per day is becoming homeless, as per a report from an organisation (details supplied). [35498/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Government has approved the delivery of 500 units of modular housing for homeless families across Dublin. It is intended to have the first 150 units delivered as quickly as possible in the Dublin City Council administrative area with the City Council acting as the contracting authority. The City Council expects the delivery of an initial 22 units by December, with a further 128 units to follow by late Quarter 1 2016 through a fast tracked procurement process. A further 350 units will then be provided across the four Dublin authorities through a national procurement framework overseen by the Office for Government Procurement, with expected construction on sites by mid-2016.

This programme of modular housing provision is just one of many actions being implemented across Government departments and agencies and is being implemented to mitigate the issues associated with an increasing volume of homeless families accommodated in inappropriate commercial hotel arrangements. These units will provide emergency accommodation in the first instance, offering a greater level of stability while move-on options to long-term independent living are identified and secured. Furthermore, such arrangements will facilitate more coordinated needs assessment and support planning for access to all required services, including welfare, health and housing services.

A significant number of other measures are being taken to address homelessness by securing a 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 by the end of 2016. 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). Substantial progress has been made in implementing these plans. 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: