Written answers

Thursday, 23 June 2022

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Emergency Accommodation

Photo of Maurice QuinlivanMaurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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90. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he has engaged with the local authority in Limerick city regarding the lack of emergency accommodation in the city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33225/22]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority. The role of my Department is to ensure that a framework of policy, legislation and funding is provided to ensure that housing authorities are in a position to address homelessness at a local level. I can assure the Deputy that resources and funding are not an obstacle to the urgent efforts required. Budget 2022 reflects this commitment by allocating €194 million for homelessness services.

It is acknowledged that there are currently severe pressures on access to emergency accommodation in Limerick City due to a variety of reasons, and I understand that Limerick City and County Council is doing everything in its power to address this. My Department has liaised and continues to liaise with Limerick City and County Council in this regard. 

While my Department sets the overall policy and legislative framework and provides the necessary resources, decisions on the range of homeless accommodation required, and the funding of such services are a matter for individual authorities. The administration of homeless services is organised on a regional basis with a lead authority in place for each region. Limerick City and County Council is the regional lead authority for the Mid-West region, which also includes Clare County Council.

Some €8.2m was provided in Exchequer funding to the Mid-West Region in 2021 with over €3.8m in funding recouped to date in 2022, with further payments to be made. I can assure the Deputy again that resources will not be an obstacle to the urgent efforts required.

Homelessness is a complex issue, in which 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. This is how we are working and will continue to do so.

These resources facilitate local authorities to provide emergency accommodation and other essential support services to households experiencing homelessness, while also ensuring that pathways out of homelessness for those households in emergency accommodation are secured as quickly as possible.

Services are also in place to assist households exiting homelessness into a home and work will continue to build upon the good work already being done in this area.

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