Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

312. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if it will be ensured that a report on all inspections of homeless emergency accommodation, funded by his Department, are published and that his Department will publish its own annual report on such inspections. [3693/21]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

338. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the inspection reports of the Dublin Region Homeless Executive will be made public given that public funding is used to fund this form of accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4108/21]

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

344. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason private providers of emergency accommodation, for persons who have become homeless, are not subject to complying with the National Quality Standards Framework for Homeless Services in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4167/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 312, 338 and 344 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 homeless services rests with individual housing authorities. Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 sets out the purposes for which costs may be incurred by housing authorities in respect of the provision of homeless accommodation and related services.

The operation of homeless accommodation services are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum, performed in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009.

While responsibility for the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities, the administration of homeless services is organised on a regional basis, with nine administrative regions in place. In respect of the Dublin Region, Dublin City Council is the regional lead authority. The Dublin Region Homeless Executive is operated by Dublin City Council and adopts a shared service approach across South Dublin County Council, Fingal County Council and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. The DRHE provide for the operational co-ordination of homeless accommodation and related services across the region on behalf of the four Dublin authorities.

All emergency accommodation, whether provided by local authorities, NGOs, voluntary bodies or privately are required to comply with standards and these standards are monitored. The National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF) for homeless services is in place nationally for local authority and NGO delivered services. The Framework was developed 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. In general, the operation of these emergency accommodation facilities is contracted out by local authorities, under service level agreements, to NGOs involved in the delivery of homeless services.

Local authorities also carry out inspections on facilities that are not covered under the Framework, as they determine to be appropriate. This regime operates in parallel with the NQSF arrangements. The Standards and Facilities Teams in the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) oversee all emergency accommodation in the region and seek to ensure that all relevant guidelines, policies and procedures are complied with in order to deliver a safe and comfortable place to stay for service users. The DRHE has an inspection regime in place to deal with complaints and to ensure accommodation is appropriate and safe. This includes engaging with homeless families and individuals on issues arising in their accommodation. The DRHE has confirmed that it has a thorough complaints procedure in place, and that each complaint is fully investigated and addressed in a timely manner.

Separate to the service standards expected of providers via service level agreements, all homeless service providers must meet the requirements of statutory codes, in particular the requirements of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Fire Services Acts.

Monitoring of services and the undertaking of site visits under the Framework and for other facilities are a matter for the individual local authorities. Details regarding the inspections of homeless emergency accommodation are not held in my Department, nor does my Department report on these inspections.

Financial reports from each region, including the DRHE, setting out total expenditure on homeless services including those services provided through the non-government sector and private emergency accommodation are published on my Department’s website at the following link; www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data. Financial reports for 2020 are currently being examined and will be published shortly.