Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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29. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of persons in recovery from addiction availing of emergency accommodation and the risks posed to their recovery by being placed in temporary accommodation with persons who are still active in addiction. [2168/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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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. In accordance with section 37 (2) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services, including accommodation, rests with individual housing authorities and, in accordance with sections 38 and 39 of the Act, a Homelessness Consultative Forum and Statutory Management Group, which include representatives of the Health Service Executive, advise and assist housing authorities, inter alia, in the configuration and provision of homeless services in their areas.

I am aware of the difficulties faced by those recovering from addiction in emergency accommodation and I am informed that, within the statutory structures mentioned above, the HSE is actively involved in providing appropriate in-reach services to assist such individuals with their addiction, mental health and other health needs. Also, where appropriate to the individuals’ needs, I understand that the service providers in emergency accommodation will try to ensure recovering addicts are placed in single rooms to assist them in their recovery.

As the Deputy would be aware, responsibility for policy development in relation to addiction and rehabilitation issues rests with the Minister for Health and the delivery of services in this regard is managed through the Health Service Executive. Under Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, the Department of Health and the HSE are committed to addressing the rehabilitation needs of homeless people with addiction issues through the forthcoming new National Drugs Strategy, which will have a particular emphasis on projects providing drug and alcohol detoxification programmes and enduring services supporting long-term recovery.

Furthermore under Rebuilding Ireland,the target for delivering secure tenancies for the most-vulnerable homeless individuals under the Dublin Region ‘housing-first’ initiative has been tripled from 100 to 300. These permanent, stable and supported tenancies for long-term homeless individuals will reduce their reliance on emergency accommodation over time. A Focus Ireland – Peter McVerry Trust consortium is tasked with delivering this programme.