Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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1214. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the measures being taken to ensure that homeless persons and families will be able to self-isolate if and when they are required to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4774/20]

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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1239. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the health and safety measures he is planning to protect persons in respect of short-term emergency accommodation provided by State agencies for families coming through the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4337/20]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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1244. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of persons registered as homeless that sleep in dormitory-style or shared-bedroom spaces, excluding situations in which members of the same family share a bedroom space exclusive of non-family members. [4444/20]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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1245. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if funds will be made available to facilitate self-isolation for homeless persons who sleep in dormitory-style or shared-bedroom space accommodation. [4445/20]

Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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1279. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if resources will be put in place to allow homeless hostels to be accessible 24 hours per day, seven days per week in order that homeless service users do not need to attend day services, which would make self-isolation easier if required. [4775/20]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1214, 1239, 1244, 1245 and 1279 together.

The role of my Department in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local or regional level. Responsibility for the provision of emergency accommodation and related services for homeless persons is a matter for the local authorities.

As part of the response to COVID-19, my Department is working closely with the Dublin Regional Homelessness Executive (DRHE), local authorities and the HSE to ensure the necessary arrangements are in place to protect individuals and families accessing emergency accommodation. This has included regular meetings and conference calls with the DRHE, local authorities and the Chief Executives of homeless NGOs. My Department is also working with the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) subgroup for vulnerable persons.

Local authorities nationally have been working to put in place additional accommodation to allow for the isolation of confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19. Significant additional accommodation is also in place to support the appropriate levels of social distancing in emergency accommodation. In Dublin, where over 70% of all homeless individuals are located, over 1,000 additional beds have been put in place to ensure adherence to HSE guidance, in addition to providing beds for individuals in emergency accommodation who are required to self-isolate. Outside Dublin, additional beds are also in place, or available for use, for the same purpose. The DRHE has also confirmed to my Department that all hostels in Dublin are operating on 24-hour basis and that meals are being provided. Additional funding is being provided to local authorities to deliver these measures.

My Department does not hold details of individuals in emergency accommodation who are sharing a bedroom.