Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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99. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the action he will take to address the scale of babies and toddlers from being born into and brought up in homelessness as revealed by recent Census data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24337/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Addressing homelessness is a priority for Government. Critical to supporting households to exit homelessness is increasing the supply of housing. Almost 12,000 new social homes were delivered in 2023, through Build, Acquisition and Leasing, including 8,110 new build homes, the highest level of new build social homes in nearly 50 years. Including HAP and RAS, 21,733 social housing solutions were delivered throughout 2023.

Record State investment of over €5bn has been made available this year to support the largest State home building programme ever, including 9,300 new build social homes. This funding will also support the Tenant in Situ scheme, with provision to acquire 1,500 homes where a social housing tenant has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. This scheme delivered 1,830 acquisitions in 2023 and was a key prevention measure. 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 2024 allocated funding of over €242 million for the delivery of homeless services. The key focus is to ensure that families experiencing homelessness are provided with emergency accommodation and supported to exit homelessness to a tenancy. There are currently 37 family hubs in operation across the county which provide a greater level of stability than is possible in hotel accommodation, with the capacity to provide appropriate play-space, cooking and laundry facilities, communal recreation space, while move-on options to homes are identified and secured. This setting also allows for more intensive supports to be provided where they are needed in areas such as welfare, health and housing services.

Housing for All also includes measures to enhance family support and prevention and early intervention services for children and their families through a multi-agency and coordinated response. Additional family support services are available through the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and Tusla. A special provision is currently in operation under the existing Community Childcare Subvention Programme of free childcare for children from homeless families.

I am continuing to work closely with the National Homeless Action Committee, which I chair, to ensure that there is a continued focus by the various stakeholders on additional measures that we can take to eradicate homelessness.