Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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43. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if additional supports will be provided by his Department so that extra capacity for homeless services in Limerick can be provided over the winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65799/25]

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 local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities.

While responsibility for the provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities, the administration of homeless services is organised on a regional basis, with nine administrative regions in place and a lead authority in each region.

A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. Decisions on the range of emergency accommodation services and funding required in each region are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum. 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.

The cold weather arrangements are typically introduced in November and additional funding is provided by my Department to meet the costs associated with these measures where necessary. These arrangements involve the introduction of additional bed capacity to ensure that there is shelter available for individuals experiencing homelessness who may be at risk of rough sleeping. Depending on the particular local requirements, local authorities may also introduce additional measures such as extended opening hours of homeless facilities and extended outreach services.

My Department is in regular discussion with each housing authority in relation to the cost of proposed services, and the funding requirements to meet their homeless services programme during the course of the year. I have made it clear to all housing authorities that funding for all required homeless services including additional capacity under the cold weather will be provided this year.