Deputy Mary Lou McDonald- speech from 31 May 2022

Minister, on Friday we had another very depressing deja vu in respect of family homelessness. On Friday the Department of Housing reported that we are now back to pre-pandemic levels of homelessness with more than 10,000 people in emergency accommodation. Minister, nearly 3,000 of those are children. This, as you know, is the very sharpest edge of the housing crisis that has been created, perpetuated and presided over by Fianna Fall and Fine Gael. Make no mistake, this scandal is of your making. You consistently fail to provide an adequate level of real social housing. You refuse to address the problems in the private rental sector and refuse also to introduce rigorous protections against eviction. So, it is now time to see sense, Minister. I do not know what will shame your Government into action if these figures and almost 3,000 children in homelessness do not, because people are sick of kids growing up in hotels and B&Bs. When will we see sense, Minister? When will we see Government actually take the actions that will work to address this crisis? Minister, Minister, please. Thank you very much, Deputy MacDonald. Any increase in the level of homelessness is deeply regrettable and disappointing and warrants action from Government. That is why we are acting. This is the number one priority for Government. We are investing a record amount of money to increase supply of all forms of housing, public housing, cost rental, the introduction of new affordable schemes and also working with the private sector and indeed the land development agency. We are seeing progress in relation to supply. That is ultimately the solution here. Nearly 35,000 homes commenced construction in the year to March 2022, which is the highest rolling 12-month figure since records began. We will deliver close to 12,000 social homes this year, of which 9,000 will be new bills. As you know, the cost rental model is now being rolled out. It is about delivering as much as we possibly can to address this issue and to address the homelessness challenge, which is growing and which is a serious concern. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.