More than €50 million sought by Dublin City Council to house homeless people and bring empty council houses and flats back into use has yet to be paid, or allocated, by the Department of the Environment.
The council published its budget for 2015 last November, which included €42 million from central Government to pay for homeless services. In addition it has sought more than €8 million to refurbish vacant housing stock.
However, to date no money has been released to the council, and the department has not yet agreed to pay the amount sought.
The council has started to spend money on housing for the 20,000 people on its social housing waiting list, although it has not been told if the money it is spending will be handed over.
Council chief executive Owen Keegan had sought clarification of the funding position ahead of drafting the 2015 budget, but it was not forthcoming. However, the budget was framed assuming an increase of €9 million on the 2014 homeless funding allocation.
Several city councillors have in recent weeks submitted questions to Mr Keegan asking how much money has been released to the council to date. Replies received in recent days show no money has been forthcoming.
Sinn Féin Cllr Daithí Doolan said while the council might not start the year with all its funding secured, it was very irregular that funding would not be in place, or even agreed, by May.
‘Long-awaited funding’
“It is shocking that we have yet to receive any funding for homeless, housing or for putting voids back into use,” said Mr Doolan.
“Despite all the spin from the Government, Dublin City Council is still waiting for this long-awaited funding. Minister Kelly continues on his road trip announcing that billions has been made available to tackle homelessness and to build social housing but nothing could be further from the truth.”
So far this year 327 vacant houses and flats, known as “voids” have been refurbished and the council intends to bring a further 528 back into use by the end of the year.
"In relation to capital funding received in relation to voids, the answer to that is nil," said the council's head of housing, Dick Brady. "But that doesn't mean we're not spending; we're spending away because we've been told the money will arrive."
By the end of March 236 homeless households had been housed, but funding received was also “nil”, said Mr Brady.
“We’re operating on the basis of the budget that was passed here,” he said.
A spokesman for the department said the allocations for homeless services “will be made shortly” and funding for voids would be finalised as soon as possible.
