Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

736. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there are any new programmes being implemented in Longford-Westmeath to address the level of homelessness. [46728/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

While responsibility for the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with individual local authorities, the administration of homeless services is organised on a regional basis, with nine administrative regions in place. The Midlands region includes counties Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath, for the purposes of homeless administration, with Westmeath County Council as lead authority.

A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. 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, and to bring forward proposals to my Department that meet the needs of homeless individuals in their administrative area and the funding requirements will be considered in this context.

An allocation of €303 million, an increase of €61m on the 2024 provision, has been made under Budget 2025 to provide homeless prevention services, emergency accommodation and other services for households experiencing homelessness. This is a 25% increase on the 2024 budget allocation. This funding will support the provision of emergency accommodation and supports that households require to exit emergency accommodation to a tenancy.

Furthermore, under Housing for All, the Government has committed to working to eradicate homelessness by 2030. The plan includes 18 distinct actions tailored to eliminate homelessness. These actions recognise that individuals experiencing homelessness have additional support needs and include specific measures to address these needs. These include measures to engage with and support rough sleepers into sustainable accommodation, the continued expansion of the Housing First programme, a focus on the construction and acquisition of one-bed homes, and, importantly, ensuring provision of the necessary health and mental health supports required to assist homeless people with complex needs.

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.

My Department continues to work closely with the National Homeless Action Committee to ensure that there is a continued focus by the various stakeholders on additional measures that we can take to eradicate homelessness and to support all those experiencing homelessness. My Department will ensure sufficient funding is made available for all required homeless services to support those at risk of or experiencing homelessness.