Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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14. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will achieve the target of no longer using hotels to house homeless persons, except in very limited circumstances, by July 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16826/17]

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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21. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on the progress of his plans to end the use of emergency settings such as hotels, bed and breakfasts and so on for persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17107/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 21 together.

The target set in Rebuilding Ireland, that by mid-2017 hotels will only be used in limited circumstances to provide emergency accommodation for families, is necessarily ambitious.  However, I believe that the significant efforts currently being made by local authorities and other key bodies, supported by my Department, will enable the objective to be achieved. 

It is intended that the long-term housing needs of families that are currently homeless will be met through a mix of social housing solutions, particularly through the enhanced Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, general social housing allocations and other letting arrangements that the housing authorities consider appropriate.  Significant results are already being achieved in this regard, with housing authorities achieving over 3,000 sustainable exits from homeless accommodation into independent tenancies during 2016, a record level of exits in a calendar year.

Local authorities are also pursuing a range of new emergency accommodation facilities that can be used as an alternative to hotels, to accommodate households during periods of homelessness.  These supported accommodation initiatives will provide temporary accommodation for homeless families with a greater level of stability, services and supports than are available in hotel accommodation, while move-on options to long-term independent living are identified and secured. 

All the agencies involved will continue to remain focused in the months ahead on the achievement of the mid-year hotels target.