Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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251. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the rising number of elderly people living on the brink of homelessness (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61011/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Increased supply across all tenures is key to eradicating homelessness.  Housing supply is increasing under Housing for All.

There is a strong pipeline, with 44,715 dwellings granted planning permission in the 12 months to the end of June 2022. 27,773 new homes were completed in the twelve months to end September 2022 - greater than the total for 2021 or any full year since the CSO completions series began. There were 26,608 units commenced in the year to October 2022 and we are on track to exceed the Housing for All target of 24,600 new build homes in 2022.

Record State investment of €4.5bn will be made available in 2023 to support the largest State home building programme ever, with 9,100 direct build social homes and 5,500 affordable homes. 

Having regard to immediate pressures, the aim of the emergency winter eviction ban is to reduce the burden on homelessness services and the pressure on tenants and the residential tenancies market.  To assist in managing demands on housing services after the winter period and ensure that there is no cliff edge impact on 1 April, the ban provides for deferred Notices of Termination to take effect on a phased basis over the period from 1 April to 18 June 2023.

As a further emergency measure, I have also written to local authority Chief Executives, informing them of my decision to continue the delegated sanction, to purchase homes where the tenant is at risk of homelessness, for the duration of the emergency winter eviction ban and up to the end of the transition period in June 2023.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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252. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will ringfence some social housing for persons coming out of care (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61012/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The allocation of social housing support to qualified households is a matter for the local authority concerned, in accordance with its allocation scheme made in accordance with Section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Social Housing Allocation Regulations 2011.  This legislation requires all local authorities, as a reserved function, to make an allocation scheme which specifies, among other things, the manner of, and the order of priority for, the allocation of dwellings to households on the housing and transfer lists.

I am aware that people with care experience are unfortunately at a heightened risk of homelessness. My Department published a protocol in 2014 which clarified the roles of Tusla and Housing authorities and outlined the practical steps involved in assessing a young person leaving State care and managing that person's accommodation and support needs. In 2017, my Department issued a circular which provided that, where a local authority is informed by Tusla that there is a need for accommodation for people aged 18-21 (or up to 23 if in education/training) leaving State care and who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, it may invite AHBs to apply for CAS funding to provide appropriate accommodation.

In response to the increase in the number of people aged 18 - 24 experiencing homelessness, my Department recently published a new national Youth Homelessness Strategy. The Strategy sets out 27 distinct actions with three main strategic aims:

1. To prevent young people from entering homelessness;
2. To improve the experiences of young people in accessing emergency accommodation; and
3. To assist young people in exiting homelessness.

- Tusla to finalise its Strategic Plan for Aftercare 2023-2025, which will align with the Youth Homelessness Strategy, as well as contain a commitment to an integrated approach to implementing key recommendations on the provision of an appropriate continuum of accommodation for young people with care experience; and

- Review and update Housing Circular 46/2014 on the Protocol on Young People Leaving State Care.

Other actions in the Strategy which apply to all young people, including those leaving care, include the development of homelessness prevention programmes; the enhancement of connectivity between local authorities and Tusla; the specific inclusion of young people in regional Homelessness Action Plans; and the development of a pilot model of a housing-led intervention for young people: Supported Housing for Youth (SHY). My Department is now in the process of establishing a Steering Group to drive the delivery of the actions set out in the Strategy.