COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, December 16, 2019

QUESTION NO. 7

QUESTION: Councillor D. Richardson

"To ask the Chief Executive report on the last count of rough sleepers and make a statement of plans for the Christmas period and cold spell for getting the rough sleepers indoors?"

REPLY:

"92 persons were confirmed as rough sleeping across the Dublin region in Winter 2019.

The Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) coordinates the responses to homelessness on behalf of the four Dublin Local Authorities.  In order to meet the increase in demand for homeless services and have the appropriate contingency plans in place for cold weather conditions, the Cold Weather Strategy 2019 was activated in the Dublin Region.  The Cold Weather Strategy is a dual approach, focusing on expanding current capacity to meet increasing demand for emergency accommodation and providing a targeted response for people who are long-term rough sleeping and people reluctant to engage with homeless services.

In partnership with a range of service providers, capacity has increased for singles and couples requiring temporary and permanent beds.

Services operate throughout the year to support people sleeping rough. During the cold weather period, services are increased and enhanced to mitigate against the health risks that cold weather poses. The cold weather provides opportunities for more assertive engagement with long-term, entrenched rough sleepers and hard-to-reach groups, aimed at placing them in appropriate and long-term accommodation.

If members of the public are concerned about rough sleepers, they can report their concerns to www.homelessdublin.ie/-rough-sleeper."