Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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442. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if staff working in private homeless services and hostels are required to be Garda vetted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15838/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the statutory role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level.

A National Quality Standards Framework for homeless services has been implemented to ensure a consistent approach in how local authorities and service providers respond to the needs of those experiencing homelessness and to improve the quality of services provided. The Framework includes the provision that service providers must ensure that staff recruitment and selection procedures comply with statutory vetting requirements.

Arising out of a commitment made in Rebuilding Ireland, a specific course on child protection was developed in partnership between the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) and Tusla. The DRHE has been providing child protection training to Private Emergency Accommodation staff, which covers their legal responsibilities under child protection legislation. Child protection booklets have been distributed to operators of private emergency accommodation.