Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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54. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the numerical breakdown of the various methods local authority housing, rapid builds, family hubs, HAP and so on that he proposes to move the more than 800 homeless persons currently in private emergency accommodation out of hotels and bed and breakfasts by the end of June 2017; his plans for all the persons that will be made newly homeless in that timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17104/17]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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69. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department will meet its target for the cessation of hotel accommodation for homeless persons; if those persons will be moved to other emergency accommodation or provided with a secure tenancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16796/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Nos. 54 and 69 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 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 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.

At present, local authorities are also pursuing a range of new emergency accommodation that can be used to accommodate households, as an alternative to hotels, 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. 

Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services, including emergency accommodation, rests with the individual housing authorities.  However, my Department continues to engage proactively with the various local authorities in relation to funding the delivery of a range of identified temporary accommodation arrangements for homeless families.