COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

QUESTION NO. 5

QUESTION: Councillor E. Ó Broin

To ask the Chief Executive to provide a report indicating the number of homeless families (and the total number of children) on the waiting list for emergency accommodation on the 1st of each month for the last 12 months and to detail the length of time each family was on the list as of the 1st of February 2015.

REPLY:

As at 31st January 2015, South Dublin County Council's Homeless Services Unit had 23 families (with 37 children) assessed as imminently at risk of homelessness and are included on our waiting list for emergency accommodation.  The majority of these families report that they are currently staying with family/friends.

It is not possible to advise regarding the average length of time a family may be on the waiting list for emergency accommodation.  All family placements are managed on a regional basis through Dublin City Council - Centralised Placement Services (as the lead authority for Homeless Services) who operate a fair and transparent system of bed placement taking into account individual family circumstances such as documented medical/child protection issues, room availability & family size; alternative options available to families (as such family & friends) as well as time on the waiting list for emergency accommodation.