221. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on the research by or on behalf of his Department into premature deaths of persons experiencing homelessness. [3810/23]

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O'Brien: My Department has not directly conducted or commissioned research into premature deaths of persons experiencing homelessness.

However, a review of homeless deaths was undertaken on behalf of the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) by Dr Austin O’Carroll. The review analysed the available data concerning deaths in homeless services for 2020 to identify learnings for homeless and health services that could help tailor the provision of care to homeless people. This ‘Interim Report on Mortality in Single Homeless Population 2020’ was completed in June 2021. In the report, Dr O’Carroll notes that the most important step in reducing mortality amongst the homeless population is the reduction of long-term homelessness. The report notes that the Housing First model is “the optimum approach to achieve this objective”. Housing First enables homeless individuals with high levels of complex needs to obtain permanent secure accommodation with the provision of intensive housing and health supports to help them maintain their tenancies. Housing for All commits to the continued expansion of Housing First, with more than 1,300 additional Housing First tenancies planned over the next five years. This will ensure that Housing First continues to operate and expand in every county of Ireland. It will involve an average of 264 new tenancies per annum, with the specific annual targets for each region now set out in the plan. This comes on the heels of the first Housing First National Implementation, which completed in December 2021, exceeding its four-year target by over 90 additional tenancies. The report makes recommendations in the areas of data collection and analysis, and a pilot study on data collection of homeless deaths nationally is being undertaken by the Health Research Board on behalf of the Department of Health. The study is currently being finalised for publication in February. The research applied the methodology used to compile the National Drug Related Deaths Index, which is a census of drug-related deaths and deaths among drug users and those who are alcohol dependent in Ireland. The data collection for 2019 deaths, including deaths among people who were homeless, involved the review of approximately 17,000 files from all Coroner districts. My Department continues to engage with the Department of Health and the Health Research Board on this study. My Department is working closely with the Department of Health, the HSE and local authorities to continue to deliver the appropriate measures to support all individuals experiencing homelessness including those with complex needs.