John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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462. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on the positions of an organisation (details supplied) with regard to homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63113/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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“Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland” recognises reducing and preventing homelessness as a priority for the Government with a particular focus on reducing the number of families and individuals experiencing homelessness. Housing for All also recognises the criticality of interagency supports which are required to address the complex combination of social, health and economic needs of homeless persons and those at risk of homelessness, in addition to their specific housing need.

To this end, I have recently established a National Homeless Action Committee which held its first meeting in December. All of the key Government departments, agencies and stakeholders are represented on the Committee. The new body will bring better co-ordination in driving policy measures and actions. A key first task for the Committee is homelessness. 

Providing early intervention to people at risk of homelessness is already an existing priority for Government. Local authorities already oversee a range of homeless prevention and tenancy sustainment measures. Many of these services are operated on behalf of local authorities by NGO service delivery partners and are funded by my Department.  

My Department is also funding Threshold’s Tenancy Protection Service. This service provides advice and support to individuals, couples and families living in private rented accommodation experiencing tenancy problems. This service has been instrumental in preventing homelessness in the first instance and supporting people to remain in their homes.

In addition, the ‘HAP Placefinder Service’ is playing a vital role in keeping families out of homelessness and in housing families who find themselves in emergency accommodation.  Under the Placefinder service, all local authorities are provided with the options to pay deposits and advance rental payments for any households in emergency homeless accommodation, in order to secure accommodation. Local authorities can offer households in emergency accommodation the option to source accommodation themselves or with the assistance of Placefinder officers.

The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (Extension of Notice Periods) Bill 2021 was introduced by Opposition parties on behalf of Simon Communities Ireland and was debated during Private Members’ time in Dáil Éireann on Tuesday, 14 December 2021.

The contents of the Bill will be considered in the context of the upcoming review of Termination Notice periods, in line with section 16(3) of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019.