Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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264. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the remaining 690 families living in hotel rooms will be moved into secure and appropriate housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52158/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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Based on reports received from the Dublin Region Homeless Executive, there were a total of 676 families accommodated in hotel and B and B arrangements at the end of October; this is a reduction of 195 families, or more than 22%, on the high of 871 recorded in March of this year. 

As part of the response to the commitment contained in Rebuilding Ireland that commercial hotels and B&B's should only be used as emergency accommodation for families in limited circumstances, housing authorities are delivering a number of family-focused, supported temporary accommodation facilities, also referred to as ‘family hubs’.  These custom-developed hub facilities offer more appropriate living arrangements for families than is possible in hotel accommodation.  There are currently ten such facilities in operation in Dublin providing temporary accommodation to approx. 300 families.  Five new hubs will become operational across Dublin before the end of the year and another two early in the New Year.  Further hubs will be delivered during the course of 2018. 

The long-term solution to the current homeless issue is to increase the supply of homes and accordingly Rebuilding Ireland is designed to accelerate all types of housing supply.  It is intended that the long-term housing needs of households in emergency accommodation will be met as soon as possible through a range of social housing supports, such as the enhanced Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme and general social housing allocations.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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265. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to meet with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to discuss his Department's policy and procedural guidance for housing authorities in assisting victims of domestic violence with emergency and long-term accommodation needs and the way in which the guidelines are not being applied consistently across local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52159/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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In line with commitments in Rebuilding Ireland, my Department issued guidance in January 2017 to all local authorities in relation to assisting victims of domestic violence with emergency and long-term accommodation needs. 

This guidance has been developed to support local authorities respond to victims of domestic violence, in the context of their housing requirements.  The guidance is also a useful reference for service providers working in the domestic violence services sector, highlighting where they can be of greatest assistance to their clients. The guidance also covers a range of scenarios that may arise for victims of domestic violence in seeking social housing supports, including provisions around the use of the Housing Assistance Payment scheme, or the Rental Accommodation Scheme, where a victim has a joint interest in the family home, or ownership of alternative accommodation, but would otherwise qualify for social housing support. 

I understand that this guidance has been positively received and broadly welcomed by housing authorities and the domestic violence services sector.  My Department is not aware of  any reports to suggest that the guidance is not being implemented across the local authority sector and, accordingly, at this time, I have no plans to meet the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, specifically in relation to this matter.