Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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609. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if legislation will be introduced to place an upper time limit on the use of family hubs or unsuitable emergency accommodation for families in view of the fact that prolonged exposure to homelessness increases a person's chance of experiencing it again in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46588/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness provides for measures to address the high number of households and families in emergency accommodation. These include the delivery of increased social housing supply through new-build, acquisition and refurbishment schemes and independent tenancies for homeless households in the private rented sector through housing supports such as Housing Assistance Payment.

As part of the response to the commitment contained in Rebuilding Ireland that commercial hotels and B&B's would only be used as emergency accommodation for homeless families in limited circumstances, housing authorities are delivering a number of family-focused, supported temporary accommodation facilities, or family hubs. This type of emergency accommodation provides a more secure and stable placement for families than is possible in hotels and B&B's. They are not a long term housing solution and families are progressed into homes provided under longer term social housing supports, as these are secured. Services such as hubs, where on-site supports are provided, have higher rates of moves to tenancies than other forms of emergency accommodation.

As part of their Service Level Agreements with local authorities, service providers must work actively with families to support them in accessing long term housing via the private rented sector (HAP), local authority housing or an Approved Housing Body tenancy.

In relation to the Deputy's specific query, I do not intend to introduce legislation mandating an upper term limit for families in family hubs. Housing authorities will, however, continue to work hard to ensure the progression of homeless families into independent tenancies, as quickly as possible.