Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 June 2023
314. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps her Department is taking to increase employment participation among people who are homeless; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31913/23]
View answerThe economic and labour market outlook for Ireland is currently positive. According to the latest estimates from the CSO (Q1, 2023), the number of people in employment is now over 2.6 million, the highest level in the history of the State, while participation rates in the economy continue to be above where they stood pre-pandemic, driven primarily by an increase in female participation. Furthermore, the unemployment rate is currently estimated at 3.8 percent, which is considered to be full employment.
Despite the significant improvement in the labour market, I am conscious that there are still people who face difficulties or barriers to securing a job, including those experiencing homelessness, and require intensive, tailored supports to enter the job market. The Government’s national employment services strategy, Pathways to Work 2021-2025, commits to supporting those who want to work to find and maintain quality employment, ensuring that nobody is left behind.
My Department, which delivers public employment services (PES) through Intreo and Intreo partners, offers a range of employment supports to help people prepare for and secure employment. The key service provided is one-on-one engagements where a range of different options are explored, and a personal progression plan is agreed. These plans can include referrals to employment opportunities, training, work placement, education, or support with self-employment or participation in state employment schemes such as CE and Tús. All of these services are available to people experiencing homelessness who are in the position to seek employment.
Adopting a whole of Government approach is a vital component to addressing barriers to work, including homelessness. My colleagues at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage play a vital role in the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at the local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual housing authorities, with additional supports, including the provision of family supports, provided to families by Tusla.
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) provides social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need and the Place Finder service assists households in or at immediate risk of homelessness primarily by providing access to deposits and advance rental payments. These elements are the core financial supports and are available to prospective tenants in all local authority areas. The Department also funds Threshold’s National Tenancy Protection Service, which is instrumental in preventing homelessness in the first instance and supporting people to remain in their homes.
