A/HRC/17/34/Add.2 84. The recent 36-per-cent reduction in the allocation to social housing71 will impact significantly on the capacity of local authorities and housing associations to both finish existing projects and provide new housing to those who have lost their jobs and their homes, as well as groups with special needs, at a time when demand for social housing is soaring. 85. Ensuring that everyone in the country enjoys adequate accommodation is an obligation with which Ireland must comply without delay, giving priority to vulnerable groups, such as families headed by single parents, persons with disabilities, older people and the homeless. Doing so will require innovative and comprehensive solutions, including greater utilization of existing housing stock, provision of additional units by local authorities, and greater use of private, voluntary and cooperative housing sectors. In this respect, the independent expert is pleased that the Government has indicated its intention to introduce a staged purchase scheme to increase the stock of social housing, and to enable larger housing associations and local authorities to access private-sector funding for social housing.72 86. The independent expert appeals to the Government to fully implement its existing strategy to address the root causes of homelessness.73 In particular, she stresses that the State must honour the commitment made in Towards 2016 to eliminate “long-term homelessness” (people in emergency accommodation for more than six months) by the end of 2010. The independent expert also welcomes the recent decision to reduce reliance on the rent supplement and move eligible applicants to the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), an additional housing option enabling local authorities to provide accommodation. She calls on the State to ensure that this process is done efficiently and in accordance with a human rights approach. 87. Despite current financial constraints, Ireland must take measures to solve the longterm housing needs in the country from a rights-based approach, which necessitates focus on the type and quality of accommodation being provided. In this vein, the independent expert is alarmed by the information that she received during her mission on the substandard housing conditions in some of the rent-supplement accommodations, and urges the Government to ensure the effective enforcement of the Housing (Standards for Rental Houses) Regulations 2008 and 2009. 88. During her mission, the independent expert visited the Fatima regeneration project in Dublin. This project provides a good example of community participation in the decision-making process that should be ensured in other projects, such as the Dolphin House project in the Rialto area. The State should consider adopting a legislative framework for a National Public Housing Estates Regeneration Programme to ensure that international human rights standards and community participation are ensured in all regeneration projects in the country. The independent expert also calls on the Government to ensure sustained funding and support to homeless centres, such as Sundial House and the Focus Ireland Coffee Shop and Housing Advice Centre in Dublin, which provide vital support and assistance to the homeless community. 71 72 73 20 Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, “Budget for 2011 to protect the most vulnerable, protect the environment and promote a sustainable economy,” 7 December 2010. PGNR, pp. 45 and 50. Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, The Way Home: A Strategy to Address Adult Homelessness in Ireland 2008-2013, August 2008.