Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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161. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will introduce legislation or support the progression of the Housing (Homeless Families) Bill 2017 which proposes to place a statutory obligation on local authorities to consider the best interests of the child when responding to families presenting as homeless; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64250/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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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 housing authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level.

Section 2 of the Housing Act 1988 outlines how local authorities can form an opinion on whether or not an individual/household shall be regarded as homeless, while section 10 outlines the actions that a local authority may take regarding the accommodation of those regarded as homeless.

Delivering Homes, Building Communities, my Government's new housing plan, provides that the Housing Act 1988 will be amended to strengthen the statutory framework within which housing authorities support households experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. Legislative provisions will also be introduced to ensure that consideration of the best interests of the child is included in the decision-making process on accommodation for households experiencing homelessness.

Amendments to the legislation will provide a clear and more robust legislative framework to support local authorities in their decision-making with regard to the eligibility of applicants for social housing and emergency homeless accommodation. Guidance will be provided to local authorities to ensure consistency in how assessments are conducted, and eligibility criteria are applied.

Any proposed changes to the legislation be will be brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas in line with the normal legislative process.