Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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239. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there is a specific plan to tackle family homelessness in the forthcoming Housing for All strategy; if the key issues and suggestions made in a strategy by an organisation (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28410/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 244 together.

The policy proposals from Focus Ireland seek a specific Government strategy to tackle family homelessness and I have received a copy. I want to assure the Deputies that I will be continuing to accord priority to working with my colleagues in Government to ensure the delivery of the appropriate responses for families experiencing homelessness.

Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority. The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, commits to reducing and preventing homelessness and provides detail on how the Government is approaching this work as a priority. Homelessness is complex and causal factors and family circumstances vary considerably as do the responses needed. Homelessness is also inter-related with the other areas of the housing system and with broader social and healthcare policy and service delivery. Therefore, a whole of Government approach is required in dealing with this challenge.

Important progress is being made, there was an almost 40% reduction of families in emergency accommodation in March based on the position one year previously representing the lowest number of families in emergency accommodation since March 2016. There were 2,166 dependants associated with these families, a decrease of 1,189, or 35%, on the position in March 2020.

Increasing the supply of housing, particularly new build social and affordable homes, is a key priority of this Government. The Programme for Government commits to increasing the social housing stock by more than 50,000, with an emphasis on new builds. In Budget 2021, we backed this objective with funding of €3.3 billion for the delivery of housing. Subject to the impact of the Covid related restrictions on the construction sector, the available funding is planned to deliver 12,750 new social homes through build, acquisition and leasing. A major focus of this investment is the delivery of new build, with an overall target of 9,500 new homes.

Work is actively underway at the moment on the preparation of a new strategic housing plan, Housing for All. Measures to further address family homelessness are forming part of this work. The Government will continue to prioritise responses for families experiencing homelessness and this is being reflected in both strategic policy and in specific actions.