Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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324. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to local authorities currently at capacity in terms of their emergency accommodation provision; the number of local authorities that he has engaged with that plan to expand their provision of emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49920/22]

Darragh 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 2023 reflects this commitment by allocating €215 million for homelessness services.

A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. Decisions on the range of emergency accommodation services and funding required in each region are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum. It is a matter for the Management Group to bring forward proposals to my Department that meet the needs of homeless individuals in their administrative area and the funding requirements will be considered in this context. The exact amounts spent by housing authorities on homeless services, as well as the type and operation of homeless services including the number of places in accommodation are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum.

I am aware of the pressures currently being experienced in accessing Emergency Accommodation nationwide and local authorities are working to address these, with assistance from my Department where necessary. A range of measures have been introduced to tackle accommodation shortages and in terms of the provision of Emergency Accommodation. All local authorities continue to make every effort to ensure that assistance is provided to all homeless households. My Department continues to liaise with local authorities in this regard.

In response to the very severe pressure on emergency accommodation concerns raised by members of NHAC, IPOA and other stakeholders I have convened a meeting next week to allow for a roundtable discussion on Homelessness and retaining landlords in the sector.

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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325. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the steps that he has taken to ensure that each local authority is fulfilling its obligation to provide emergency accommodation to those with a local connection; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Dublin is becoming the only destination for persons who are otherwise refused elsewhere and this has contributed to Dublin being at capacity in terms of emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49921/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities.

Under the Housing Act 1988 it is a matter for each local authority to determine whether a person is regarded as homeless; section 2 of the Act sets out the requirements in this regard. When a household has been assessed as homeless, section 10 of the Housing Act 1988, provides that a local authority may provide accommodation and related services to that household. Any household assessed as homeless may be placed into temporary emergency accommodation without the requirement to undergo a social housing assessment, allowing local authorities the flexibility that is essential to respond quickly and effectively to the various needs of cases that may arise.

I wrote to all Chief Executives on 9 December 2020 to ensure that the most vulnerable on the streets do not end up without shelter due to not being from the area and asking local authorities to ensure that the local connection requirement in a social housing assessment context is not operating as a barrier in the provision of emergency accommodation.

My Department is aware of the pressures being experienced in Dublin and across the country in the current climate and is liaising with local authorities to assist them in providing solutions to support those who may find themselves homeless.