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 statutory role of local authorities in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons.

Housing for Allrecognises reducing and preventing homelessness as a top priority for the Government and commits to working towards eradicating homelessness by 2030. Ultimately the aim is to secure pathways out of emergency accommodation as quickly as possible, while also ensuring that those experiencing homelessness are provided with appropraite and high quality services.

The National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF) for homeless services is in place nationally for local authority and NGO delivered services, and is designed 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 Dublin the oversight of these standards is a matter for the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE). As a number of facilities are operated privately in the Dublin Region, the DRHE have adapted the NQSF standards in order to apply their provisions to private emergency accommodation and presented these standards to the Dublin Region strategic management group and consultative forum in September 2021.These standards are to be applied to private emergency accommodation, with the owner / operator responsible for the physical standards and the visiting support teams responsible for the support and case management standards. The DRHE appointed a Development Officer in January 2022, to roll out these standards in private emergency accommodation and to co-ordinate training with the HSE for staff working in these settings. The Development Officer will also co-ordinate quarterly key performance indicator (KPI) returns from the beginning of 2022.

Monitoring and inspection of services is an important element of the NQSF Framework. The Framework seeks to ensure levels of quality in the provision of temporary accommodation and related services for homeless persons. The standards give service providers a framework for continuous quality improvement in their services. Local authorities undertake monitoring and review activities to assure that services are operating effectively. It is matter for the local authorities to ensure compliance with the standards, including through the contractual arrangements and service level agreements in place with service providers.

The Standards and Facilities Team in the DRHE oversee all emergency accommodation 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 also has a 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 have also recently tendered for an inspection service for physical standards in both NGO and privately operated services.

It is important to recognise the multitude of agencies that deliver services to those in emergency accommodation including the HSE, Tusla and NGO service delivery partners. In order to ensure a renewed emphasis is brought to collaborating across Government in delivery of services I have established a National Homeless Action Committee. As this Committee brings together key Government Departments, agencies and stakeholders involved in providing, overseeing and monitoring services delivered to those experiencing homelessness I intend to bring this matter for discussion at the next meeting of the Committee in April. This Committee is best placed to consider the most appropriate way forward in ensuring quality services are delivered to all those in emergency accommodation.