Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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317. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the regional homeless forum covering counties Cork and Kerry last met. [62278/22]

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. The management and administration of homeless services is a matter for the management group of the consultative forum.

The Department does not track the dates of the Homelessness Fora, but has received the following information from Cork and Kerry Regional leads.

The Homeless Forum for Kerry met last week, on 6 December 2022. This forum consists of Kerry County Council, Novas, HSE Addiction Services, Peter McVerry Trust, Threshold, Cork Simon, DePaul, Sophia, Focus and Good Shepherd Services.

Due to Covid and staff changes there have been delays in holding the Cork City and County Forum. The Forum for Cork City and County last met on 17 December 2021 and is scheduled to meet next week, on 20 December 2022. The membership of the forum chaired by Cork City Council includes, Cork Simon, Depaul, Sofia Housing, Good Shepherd Services, Focus Ireland, Peter McVerry Trust, O’Connell Court, Wellsprings, Tusla Aftercare Service, Probation Services, Department of Social Protection, HSE Mental Health Services, HSE Social Inclusion and the Gardaí. The schedule for meeting during 2023 will be agreed at the meeting next week.

It should be noted that the Statutory Management Meetings, whose members include Kerry County Council, Cork County Council, City Council and the HSE, are held every two months and Homeless Action Team meetings are held in each Local Authority in the region every fortnight.