Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 336 and 337 together.

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 local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual local authorities.

My Department currently gathers and publishes data on a monthly basis on the number of homeless persons accommodated in emergency accommodation funded and overseen by local authorities. These reports are based on data provided by local authorities, produced through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS). The monthly homelessness report includes details of individuals, families and the dependants of these families who accessed emergency accommodation during the relevant count week of the month in question. The most recently published data is in respect of December 2023. The reports are collated on a regional basis and are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/80ea8-homelessness-data/ and are also published to the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform's open data portal data.gov.ie/.

In line with commitments made in both the Programme for Government and Housing for All, my Department published a national Youth Homelessness Strategy in November 2022. The Strategy aims to help young people aged 18 – 24 who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. It sets out 27 key actions to prevent youth homelessness; improve the experiences of young people accessing emergency accommodation; and assist young people in exiting homelessness. A Steering Group has been established to drive the delivery of all the actions contained within the Strategy. An integrated, whole-of-Government approach was deployed in developing the Strategy and a similar approach is now being taken in implementing its actions, with a multitude of key stakeholders playing a vital role in addressing the fundamental issues arising in addressing youth homelessness.