Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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304. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department has undertaken any work to offer additional support to homeless services in Galway city and county given the severe lack of emergency accommodation in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57911/22]

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 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.  

While responsibility for the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities, the administration of homeless services is organised on a regional basis, with nine administrative regions in place. 

A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009.  It is a matter for the management group of the consultative forum, in the first instance, to determine the services and the funding required to address homelessness in each region. Each region submits an annual expenditure programme to my Department and my Department approves a funding allocation. The management of the funding allocation is delegated to the lead authority in each region and is governed by a protocol between my Department and the lead authority. This protocol sets out the funding arrangements and structures to ensure adherence with statutory requirements and public financial procedures.  

My Department is working with Galway City and County Councils to ensure that their Cold Weather Arrangements are in place in time for the coming winter. Funding is being made available to housing authorities to ensure that cold weather arrangements are sufficient to provide the necessary housings supports during the winter period.

In addition to the Cold Weather Arrangements, Galway City and County Councils have been asked to advise my Department if there is a need for additional emergency beds and, if so, have been asked to submit new service proposals without delay.

On 28 October 2022 Galway City Council were granted Stage 2 approval for the construction of a Day Centre and Temporary Homeless Accommodation at Seamus Quirke Road. This project will deliver a day centre and 24 emergency beds in 2024.

My Department has been liaising regularly with Galway City and County Councils with regards to the  homelessness and emergency accommodation situation in both areas, and works closely with them in the course of its work with the Galway Social Housing Taskforce.