Ms Fiona Barry:

The network's primary recommendation is that resourcing prevention is key to stopping the crisis. However, until resources are put into prevention and people stop coming into emergency services, we require emergency provision across the sector as an emergency response. Access to emergency accommodation of a good standard is a basic human right. No person should ever have to sleep rough. I sat outside in the waiting area and I looked at the beautiful area outside and I wondered how much funding and resources could be put into the provision of emergency accommodation.

Resources are also required for placements in people's local areas. Placement is the way we assess people and ensure they have an exit from homelessness. These are required for single people, couples and families. We urgently require additional emergency accommodation. While cold weather facilities were opened for the six months of the winter period, they are closing. Sleeping rough is an option during the summer months and it is not a human right to have a bed for the night during the summer months.

The Brú emergency accommodation facility has gained attention in recent weeks. Last night Brú had 58 empty beds with a full staff team. I understand from colleagues that the Dublin freephone service refused 90 people due to lack of emergency accommodation. This is not just an issue of the Brú Aimsir facility. Emergency facilities are required across the city in order to respond to the increasing numbers of people coming into homeless accommodation. People coming into homeless accommodation have very complex needs. HSE budgets must be restored to 2010 levels because we require urgent medical facilities to be provided on site to people experiencing complex medical needs. While access to emergency provision is required, our goal is to get out of the business of providing emergency accommodation. We do not want people to live in emergency accommodation permanently. We want them to have access to housing.