Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 October 2023
262. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which he can assist in the provision of resources to the various local authorities in order to improve the availability and quality of emergency housing accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43436/23]
View answerMy 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. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services rests with individual local authorities.
My Department does not fund any homeless service directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988. Under Exchequer funding arrangements, local authorities must provide at least 10% of the cost of services from their own resources. Furthermore, local authorities may also incur additional expenditure on homeless related services outside of the Exchequer funding arrangements provided by my Department.
A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each of the nine homeless regions 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 local authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum.
My Department is in regular discussion with each local authority in relation to funding requirements to meet their homeless services programme, and I have continued to assure local authorities that funding for all required homeless services including in the provision of emergency accommodation will be provided this year.
