1874. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the policy which previously applied where a person presenting as homeless in Dublin had most recently been ordinarily resident in another local authority area, including any arrangements whereby the person could be referred to that local authority for homeless services; when and why this approach changed; the extent to which a person's previous residence, family connections and existing support networks are currently considered when determining the appropriate local authority or location through which homeless services are provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62577/26]

Statutory responsibility for the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons rests with individual local authorities. Decisions on the assessment of households for homeless services, the most appropriate form of such support, and the allocation of that support are a matter for the local authority concerned.

Under the Housing Act 1988 it is a matter for each local authority to determine whether a person is regarded as homeless; section 2 of the Act sets out the requirements in this regard. When a household has been assessed as homeless, section 10 of the Housing Act 1988, provides that a local authority may provide accommodation and related services to that household.

Normally, homeless accommodation is provided by the relevant local authority where a household normally resides, in order to meet that household’s long-term housing need. However, local authorities have discretion to provide accommodation and related homeless services to a household that has been assessed as homeless and who resides outside the local authority functional area.

Operational issues in the day-to-day delivery of services, including provision of homeless accommodation provided through a local authority, are a matter for the relevant local authority. I, as Minister, am precluded from intervening in relation to the procedures followed, or decisions made, by local authorities in the provision of homelessness or housing supports to any household.