Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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80. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the urgent steps being taken to address the crisis in homelessness in Ireland, with 14,429 people, including 4,401 children, in need of emergency accommodation in July 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36718/24]

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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112. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the immediate and urgent actions that will be taken to address the high levels of homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36998/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 112 together.

Supporting individuals and families facing 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. This funding will support the provision of emergency accommodation and supports that households require to exit emergency accommodation to a tenancy. 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. Local authorities and their service delivery partners will work closely with all households in emergency accommodation to support them to secure an exit to a tenancy. With the significant increase in social housing stock, I have asked local authorities to ensure that sufficient homes are being allocated to exit households from emergency accommodation.

I continue 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.