Francis Noel Duffy (Dublin South West, Green Party)
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287. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that PPS numbers are being required of persons seeking emergency accommodation; the steps he is taking to ensure that all privacy rights afforded to persons under GDPR are being upheld within homelessness services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39695/20]

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 role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at the local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities. Specifically under Section 10 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 local authorities are responsible for the provision of housing supports to households for the purposes of meeting their accommodation needs, including services provided to homeless persons under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988.

Local authorities have statutory obligations under GDPR and the Data Protection Acts, and have a responsibility, in common with other public bodies, to ensure compliance with such requirements in the performance of their functions.

Francis Noel Duffy (Dublin South West, Green Party)
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288. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that since the cessation of one-night only emergency accommodation by the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive, DHRE, there is an increase in rough sleepers who are deemed ineligible to access longer term emergency accommodation in Dublin; the measures he is putting in place to ensure humanitarian aid and shelter is provided to all who need it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39696/20]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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308. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the practice whereby homeless persons who seek assistance in Dublin are being told to return to their home counties and seek help there, resulting in many sleeping on the streets due the travel restrictions during Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40278/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 288 and 308 together.

My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and associated services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities.

Under the Housing Act 1988 it is a matter for each local authority to determine whether a person is regarded as homeless; section 2 of the Act sets out the requirements in this regard. When a household has been assessed as homeless, section 10 of the Housing Act 1988, provides that a local authority may provide accommodation and related services to that household.

Any household assessed as homeless may be placed into temporary emergency accommodation without the requirement to undergo a social housing assessment, allowing local authorities the flexibility that is essential to respond quickly and effectively to the various needs of cases that may arise. All local authorities/the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE), have responsibility to provide emergency accommodation for individuals and households becoming homeless from their functional area.

The DRHE has advised my Department that it operates additional emergency accommodation specifically for the management of contingencies that arise at night and for those at risk of rough sleeping. It is supplemental to emergency accommodation provided by local authorities. The Central Placement Service and Freephone Services manage bookings to these contingency beds as well as the mainstream work of assessment and placement in homeless services on behalf of Dublin City Council.

Services operate throughout the year to support persons who are rough sleeping. However, there is an increased emphasis on the level of service provision during the cold weather period in order to mitigate against the health risks that people can be exposed to, through rough sleeping in cold weather conditions. Critically, the cold weather period provides opportunities for engagement with long-term rough sleepers and hard-to-reach groups, where increased supports need to be made available.

The overriding objective is to provide long-term homes for all individuals experiencing homelessness. Individuals accessing homeless services are supported by local authorities and their NGO service delivery partners to secure a home, utilising the various social housing supports.