Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2024
445. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the new resources he will make available to the DRHE in 2025 considering the relentless increase in numbers of people availing of emergency accommodation across the city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42965/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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 housing 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. A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. 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, and to bring forward proposals to my Department that meet the needs of homeless individuals in their administrative area and the funding requirements will be considered in this context.
Exchequer funding for homeless services is provided through my Department to housing authorities on a regional basis. The DRHE provides a shared service on behalf of the four Dublin housing authorities with Dublin City as the lead authority.
My Department is in regular discussion with each housing authority in relation to funding requirements to meet their homeless services programme and I have continued to assure housing authorities that funding for all required homeless services, including the provision of emergency accommodation, will be provided this year. Exchequer funding of some €178 million has been provided to Dublin City Council towards the operation of the Dublin regional homeless services programme to date in 2024, with further funding to be provided to the end of the year.
