Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent)
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599. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to confirm that the Digital Hub has no objection in extending the lease for the Brú Aimsir emergency accommodation on James Street, Dublin 8. [14730/16]

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent)
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600. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the Digital Hub has no objection or has an objection to extending the Brú Aimsir emergency bed facility beyond the 31 May 2016; and if there is no objection, for how long will it be extended. [14798/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 599 and 600 together.

The Programme for a Partnership Government has committed to addressing the housing shortage and homelessness, and is committed to publishing, within the first 100 days, a new Action Plan for Housing which will contain a specific section on preventing homelessness.  

The accommodation referred to in the Questions is located in a warehouse property owned by the Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA), which operates under the aegis of my Department. My predecessor granted his consent to grant a lease, including two extensions thereto, to Dublin City Council (DCC) to use the vacant warehouse as a temporary cold weather emergency facility.

Any extension of the lease on the property is a matter for DCC and the DHDA in the first instance. I understand that DCC and DHDA are in discussions about the possibility of further extending the term of the lease, and I will consider any related request for Ministerial consent as a matter of priority.