Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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43. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of tenancies provided under the housing first model; his plans to expand the use of this model here in view of its success internationally in addressing long-term homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8997/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government’s 2013 Homelessness Policy Statement recognises that stable housing is the sustainable solution to homelessness and emphasises a housing-led approach as the primary response to homelessness. Housing-led approaches to homelessness incorporate the provision of adequate support for people in their homes, according to their needs. Under Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) is committed to tripling the target for tenancies under its ‘housing first’ programme to 300 by end-2017. This will require additional resources and supports to be provided by the HSE, housing authorities and service providers. This ‘housing first’ programme is operated under a contract which is being delivered through a joint consortium of Focus Ireland and the Peter McVerry Trust.  I understand that 62 tenancies have been created to date under the programme and the DRHE, Focus Ireland and the Peter McVerry Trust will be assigning additional staff to deliver on this action in 2017. Accordingly, I expect that the target of 300 tenancies by the end of 2017 will be achieved.  

As well as strengthening the existing housing-led approach in Dublin, Rebuilding Ireland also commits to extending it to other urban areas, focusing on persistent rough sleepers and long-term homeless households. My Department is currently consulting with the relevant housing authorities, the HSE and other stakeholders with a view to having an implementation programme in place as soon as possible in order to achieve this.