10.—(1) A housing authority may, subject to such regulations as may be made by the Minister under this section—

(a) make arrangements, including financial arrangements, with a body approved of by the Minister for the purposes of section 5 for the provision by that body of accommodation for a homeless person,

(b) provide a homeless person with such assistance, including financial assistance, as the authority consider appropriate, or

(c) rent accommodation, arrange lodgings or contribute to the cost of such accommodation or lodgings for a homeless person.

(2) A request for accommodation may be made to a housing authority by or on behalf of a homeless person.

(3) Where accommodation or lodgings are made available to a person by virtue of subsection (1), the housing authority may at any time specify a period for which the accommodation or lodgings are to be so made available to that person.

(4) The Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance and subject to such regulations as may be made by the Minister under this section, recoup, out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas, all or part of any payment made by a housing authority by virtue of subsection (1).

(5) Where accommodation or lodgings are made available to a person by virtue of subsection (1), the housing authority may require that person to pay to them such charge as they see fit, having regard to the means of the person, the cost to the authority of such accommodation or lodgings and such other matters as the authority consider appropriate.

(6) A charge due to a housing authority under subsection (5) shall be recoverable by them as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.

(7) A charge under subsection (5) shall not be subject to the terms of any rent scheme in relation to houses let by the housing authority.

(8) Where accommodation or lodgings are made available to a person by virtue of subsection (1) and—

(a) the circumstances of that person change to the extent that, in the opinion of the housing authority—

(i) if the accommodation or lodgings being made so available were no longer available, the person would not be homeless, or

(ii) the person is now able to provide accommodation from his own resources, or

(b) that person has failed to pay a charge under subsection (5),

the authority may cease to have such accommodation or lodgings made so available and may require the person to vacate the accommodation or lodgings.

(9) Where accommodation or lodgings are made available or assistance is provided to a person by virtue of subsection (1), such person shall not be precluded for that reason from being included in an assessment under section 9 or being accepted for inclusion in the next such assessment.

(10) A housing authority may, while making enquiries to enable them to determine if a person is homeless, exercise the powers provided for in subsection (1).

(11) Regulations under this section may, in particular, but without prejudice to the generality of subsections (1) and (4), make provision in relation to all or any one or more of the following:

(a) the manner in which housing authorities exercise their powers under this section;

(b) the amount and conditions of recoupments under subsection (4);

(c) the notification by a housing authority of the decision on a request for accommodation and the reasons therefor;

(d) the furnishing of information to a housing authority in relation to a request for accommodation or assistance from the authority;

(e) such other incidental, consequential or supplementary provisions as may appear to the Minister to be necessary or expedient.