150. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to detail his plans to implement the recommendations of the report by the Oireachtas Committee Housing, Local Government and Heritage on homelessness; to outline specifically which recommendations he intends to implement; the timeframe for such implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48049/26]

Supporting individuals and families experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness is a priority for me, my Department and Government. I welcome the Committee’s focus on this important area. Indeed many of the recommendations put forward are addressed in our new housing plan Delivering Homes, Building Communities and are being progressed by my Department in collaboration with other Government departments, local authorities and their service delivery partners.

The report calls for a greater focus on prevention. There are many prevention initiatives already underway in the Department and across Government, including the provision of social and affordable housing, HAP and homeless HAP, and our strong tenancy protection legislation. I recognise that more needs to be done and a co-ordinated approach is required right across Government. That is why, a cross Departmental Working Group was established to drive the development of a Prevention Framework. The first draft of the framework is being considered by Working Group members and the Framework will be in place this year.

The report also recognises the importance of a continued focus on measures to address youth homelessness and calls for the development of a child and family homelessness strategy. Again work is well underway in these 2 important areas as committed to in the Housing Plan. I am establishing a standing sub-group of the National Homeless Action Committee to ensure a continued focus on youth homelessness and my Department in partnership with Department of the Taoiseach's will shortly publish a cross-departmental Child and Family Homelessness Action Plan.

Many other actions are underway that speak to the recommendations in the report, including the development of the of the Housing Delivery Action Plans, a review of the Housing Assistance Payment and the continued funding of the second hand acquisition scheme, including tenant in situ acquisitions.

Ultimately increased supply is key to addressing homelessness, meeting need, and addressing the challenges in the housing market. The new Housing Plan aims to deliver 300,000 new homes in the period to 2030, including 72,000 social homes and 90,000 starter home supports. The Government is targeting a delivery of more than 300,000 new homes over the next six years, an average of c. 50,000 per annum, with annual targets increasing incrementally to exceed 60,000 by end 2030/31. This means 12,000 new social homes will be delivered on average each year to the end of 2030.