Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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476. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the way in which contracts are awarded for the running of homelessness services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16779/21]

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 a 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.

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. A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. It is a matter for the management group of the consultative forum, in the first instance, to determine the services and the funding required to address homelessness in each region. Following that determination the procurement of individual services and associated contractual arrangements entered into are a matter for individual housing authorities. In contracting services housing authorities are obliged to ensure compliance with all relevant statutory obligations in respect of provision of services and use of public funds.