Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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333. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of beds made available and accessed in County Clare under the cold weather initiative in winter 2022-2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4181/23]

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. 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 of the consultative forum, in the first instance, to determine the services and the funding required to address homelessness in each region.  

The cold weather arrangements are typically introduced in November and additional funding is provided by my Department to meet the costs associated with these measures where necessary. These arrangements involve the introduction of additional bed capacity to ensure that there is shelter available for individuals experiencing homelessness who may be at risk of rough sleeping.  Depending on the particular local requirements, local authorities may also introduce additional measures such as extended opening hours of homeless facilities and extended outreach services. 

The information requested in the Question will be available directly from Clare County Council.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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334. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 169 of 27 September 2022, the percentage of the €6.5 million Exchequer funding that has been spent in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4182/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988.  Under Exchequer funding arrangements, housing authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources.  Furthermore, housing authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of the Exchequer funding arrangements provided by my Department. Therefore, the exact amounts spent by housing authorities on homeless services, as well as the type and operation of homeless services are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum. 

The management of an annual funding allocation is delegated to the lead authority in each homeless 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. The Protocol agreement also sets out reporting requirements in respect of expenditure incurred on the provision of services and includes a requirement to ensure that certified expenditure is reported to my Department. The drawdown of Exchequer funding is in accordance with the reporting arrangements set out in the Protocol. In 2022, the total Exchequer funding provided by my Department to the Mid West Region, which includes Clare County Council was €10 million. Certified expenditure reports from all regional lead authorities are published on my Department's website at:

www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data.  Financial reports for 2022 are currently being examined and will be published shortly.

The detail sought in the question is an operational matter and is a matter for the individual housing authority.