Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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172. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on whether his commitment of having no families living in hotels and bed and breakfasts by July 2017 is still achievable (details supplied). [17449/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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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.