Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Overcrowding is not often discussed in the media but the problem has a serious detrimental effect on children. The issue is related to the housing strategy. I know of one family of two adults, three teenagers and two younger children who live in a small, old two-bedroom flat. There are probably numerous similar cases. The lack of social housing is having a major impact because children do not have space and must often share rooms that are much too small. Delays in extending local authority houses feed into the problem, although many of those affected are living in rented accommodation or with parents in local authority accommodation. This is a significant issue that is not widely discussed.