Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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510. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the measures his Department is taking to address record homelessness figures across Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37196/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Addressing homelessness is a priority for this Government. The Programme for Government includes a number of commitments to address homelessness, including ensuring that there is sufficient emergency accommodation for those who require it with special supports for children impacted by homelessness.

Funding of €303 million is available for the delivery of homeless services in 2025. This funding supports the provision of emergency accommodation and wrap around supports. In addition, capital funding of €25m will support the delivery of high quality transitional and emergency accommodation for households experiencing homelessness. A key focus of local authorities and their service delivery partners is to support households experiencing homelessness to exit emergency accommodation to a tenancy.

Increased supply is key to addressing homelessness, meeting need and addressing the challenges in the housing market. Government is fully committed to working with all stakeholders to deliver social, affordable and cost rental homes at scale and to continue accelerating housing supply across all tenures. Housing for All contains a suite of actions that have, and continue to, increase the provision of housing through accelerating supply and increasing the affordability of homes for our citizens.

Government is committed to increasing supply with a record level of €6.8 billion in capital funding being made available for the delivery of Housing in 2025. The capital provision is supplemented by a further €1.65 billion in current funding to address housing need. This will allow us to build on the more than 10,500 new social homes which were delivered in 2024, through build, acquisition and leasing, including 7,871 new-build homes. Including HAP and RAS, 20,292 social housing solutions were delivered throughout 2024.

The National Homeless Action Committee (NHAC), which I chair, is effective in providing an opportunity to exchange views and progress work in addressing homelessness. The primary objective of the Committee is to bring together key Government Departments, agencies and stakeholders, to oversee implementation of the homeless inter-agency measures committed to under Housing for All and to ensure for coherence and co-ordination of homeless related services in delivering policy measures and actions.

The Programme for Government, Securing Ireland’s Future, also commits to ensuring a holistic, cross Departmental approach to homelessness prevention and focussing social housing allocations on getting families out of long-term homelessness. My Department is currently drafting a New Housing Plan and included in this will be measures specific to child and family homelessness.

I am continuing 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. My Department will ensure sufficient funding is made available for all required homeless services to support those at risk of or experiencing homelessness.