Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

There are now 13,866 people living in emergency homeless accommodation, the highest number in the history of the State. Tragically, included in this figure are 4,147 children, representing a 56% rise in child homelessness since the Government took office – 56% in just four years. The reaction of the Minister for housing to reaching this grim milestone was a disgrace. He actually welcomed the increase in homelessness figures. He welcomed them on the basis that the monthly increase was not as big as usual. Is that what this Government is now reduced to? Is it so desperate to spin that its housing plan is working that it is trying to turn an increase in homelessness into some kind of positive?

The housing disaster is out of control and it does not seem like the Taoiseach's Government can even acknowledge that. Can he at least clarify that the Government does not actually welcome an additional 25 people entering homelessness?

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