Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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39. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider emergency housing measures to increase the supply of housing to those counties particularly affected by the threat of homelessness; the steps he will take to address these ever increasing housing needs in order to ensure that homelessness does not become an endemic and that families including parents and children have an option to avail of in the event of finding themselves homeless arising from eviction, or through the ongoing increasing demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54105/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 80 together.

Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority. Critical to supporting households to exit homelessness is increasing the supply of housing. Record state investment of €4.5bn has been made available this year to support the largest State home building programme ever, including 9,100 new build social homes and 5,500 affordable homes.

My Department continues to prioritise measures which focus on accelerating social and affordable housing supply through a combination of new build, targeted acquisitions and leasing. Local authorities have also been sanctioned to acquire at least 1,500 social homes, mainly focused on preventing new entries to homelessness, from the private rental sector. For private tenants at risk of homelessness who are not in receipt of social housing supports, the ‘Cost Rental Tenant In-Situ’ scheme has also been introduced.

Budget 2023 allocated funding of over €215 million for the delivery of homelessness services. On 29 November 2023 an additional €102m was approved by Cabinet by way of a supplementary estimate for the provision of homeless services in 2023.

Housing for All includes measures to enhance family support and prevention and early intervention services for children and their families through a multi-agency and coordinated response, and the dissemination of innovative practice. There is also a measure to identify and provide enhanced tenancy sustainment supports to families experiencing long-term homelessness to help them exit from homelessness and maintain their homes. These actions are being delivered in conjunction with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and Tusla.

I continue to work with the National Homeless Action Committee to ensure that there is a continued focus across Government to support individuals and families experiencing homelessness and to ensure that we address both prevention of entries into homelessness and exits from homelessness as a matter of urgency.