Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I think the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, has covered it quite well but Deputy Barry might take time to read the full debate yesterday rather than select one line from it. That goes back to the commentary to which I was referring last night. The commentary we hear on the homelessness and housing situation in Ireland often tries to give the impression that absolutely nothing is being done. That is an unfair commentary on the Irish people, who are spending billions every year through the Government trying to help solve homelessness, to deal with homelessness from an emergency point of view and in the long term as well. A lot of money is being spent on this with €6 billion committed and more than €2 billion will be spent in this area next year. As for the constant commentary, the Deputy might have remained to hear some of the debates we have had in recent weeks in the Dáil. In every week since September, when speaking in Dáil debates on housing, I have asked everybody to just deal with some of the facts. I have no problem with people pushing for more and I understand that. We put all the facts out there and do not try to hide any numbers but Members consistently come into the Chamber to contribute to debates and leave out the view that as a State, we are helping 21,000 people in a housing situation. The Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, and I keep saying we know it still is not enough to deal with the problem, that we are putting more money into the problem, are providing more solutions and keep trying. However, the commentary that we are doing nothing cannot continue because that is damaging to us as a nation and to all those who are working in the front-line services night in and night out to provide help and accommodation and who are trying to work on long-term and short-term solutions. That is what I discussed in my speech last night and I will defend that again because it is important that we recognise that.

In addition, as a nation we are trying to win investment from many different sectors in our society including job creation etc. If all those outside looking in think the Government is sitting idly back and doing nothing to solve the housing problem, they might consider investing elsewhere and it is important that we on reflect what we are doing. The Government consistently states that it never hides this, it knows that it is not enough to solve the problem and that it cannot stop until there is nobody in a homeless situation or on an emergency bed. Please do not keep saying nothing has been done. That is not a fair reflection and that is what I discussed in my contribution to the debate last night. I ask the Deputy to take time out and listen to the full discussion because this goes back to my problem. Even in the article published today by Mel Reynolds, he picks on one piece of the overall range of solutions and range of actions. That is not good enough as a commentary and nor is it good enough for any Deputy to pick one area. We are open to criticism on specific areas; that is not a problem and we take it quite well. However, we are entitled to deal with the facts of the situation. That is all I ever ask people to do in debates and that reflects the views expressed last night. A lot of good work is being carried out here on behalf of the State and through voluntary bodies that needs to be recognised. They are helping many people and we want to help more. While that is what we all want to do, people should not ignore that work that has been done as well. It is not fair to do that.