Written answers

Wednesday, 19 January 2022

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Housing Schemes

Photo of Eoin Ó BroinEoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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565. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the National Homeless Action Committee; the membership of same; the terms of reference; the number of meetings to date; and if the invites of the group will be published on the website of his Department. [1988/22]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Housing for All recognises that reducing and preventing homelessness is a top priority for the Government. The Plan also recognises the criticality of the interagency supports 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. In that context, Housing for All commits to establishing a new National Homeless Action Committee.

In line with this commitment, the National Homeless Action Committee (NHAC) was established in Q4 2021.  The first meeting took place on 20 December 2021. The work of the group is informed by Housing for All and is tasked with overseeing the interagency actions set out in this Plan. The overarching objective of the group is to ensure that a renewed emphasis is brought to collaborating across Government to implement actions in the Plan, along with bringing better coherence and coordination of homeless-related services in delivering policy measures and actions to address homelessness.

The purpose of NHAC’s Terms of Reference is to clearly define the objectives and functions of the group. These Terms mirror the overall objectives set out in Housing for All along with its key actions. The Terms of Reference were discussed and agreed at the inaugural meeting.

NHAC comprises representatives from the following Government Departments, agencies and bodies:

- Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

- Department of Justice

- Department of the Taoiseach

- Department of Health

- Department of Social Protection

- Department of Education

- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

- The Housing Agency

- County and City Management Association

- Dublin Region Homeless Executive

- Health Service Executive

- Tusla

- Threshold

- Focus Ireland

- Peter McVerry Trust

- DePaul

- Society of St. Vincent de Paul

- Dublin Simon

- Simon Communities of Ireland

- Crosscare

It is planned that meetings of NHAC will take place quarterly, with the second meeting due to be held in the coming month. Details in respect of the Committee and a note of its meetings will be published on my Department’s website on an ongoing basis.

Photo of Eoin Ó BroinEoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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566. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the targets and the delivery data of Housing First tenancies from 2018 to 2021 as per the first Housing First action plan in tabular form. [1989/22]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Housing First enables homeless individuals with high levels of complex needs to obtain permanent secure accommodation with the provision of intensive housing and health supports to help them maintain their tenancies.

The first National Implementation Plan for Housing First, published in September 2018, which put the programme on a national footing, was designed to provide this response, by delivering permanent housing solutions and associated supports for rough sleepers and long-term users of emergency accommodation. It extended the delivery of Housing First nationally and included an overall target of 663 tenancies for the period 2018-2021.

Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland committed to the further expansion of Housing First. A new National Implementation Plan, which provided for a further 1,319 tenancies covering the period 2022-2026, was published in December 2021.

Data on the number of Housing First tenancies created are published every three months as part of my Department's Homeless Quarterly Progress Reports.

The table below provides details on the number of tenancies created over the period of the first National Implementation Plan to the end of Q3 2021.  Details on the number of tenancies created in Q4 2021 will be published at the end of January 2022.

Year 2018 2019 2020 To end Q3 2021 Total number created Target under National Implementation Plan 2018-2021
Tenancies created 92 189 241 173 695 663

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