Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I think all of our guests for their presentations. I acknowledge the work their organisations are doing to highlight the issues raised. I refer, in particular, to the reports they have been publishing. It is important not to underestimate their value. Our guests spend a great deal of time researching, publishing and launching such reports and then they are left to wonder what happens to them. Those reports are a vital resource, especially for a committee such as this, in order to fully understand the issues involved. Those reports that give a voice to children in the context of outlining their experiences are particularly valuable. I want our guests to know that their in this regard work is in no way wasted.

Two significant items of research have been published this week. The first of these is a report from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, one aspect of which is an examination of accommodation and homelessness. One of the most stinging sentences in the report is where the commission outlines its belief that the rise in homelessness has been "significantly exacerbated by Government policy choices". On the same day, a very important paper by three academics was published in the The Geographical Journal. This paper looks at the experience and the negative physical and emotional impact of hotel accommodation on children. It would be worthwhile if the committee secretariat could circulate both publications to the members of the committee because they make for very stark reading.

It is important to acknowledge that the voices raising these concerns are not just those in the traditional NGO sector. I am not disparaging the NGO sector in any way, particularly as I worked it in for a time, but it is important for members to understand that when NGOs are joined by statutory organisations such as the Office of the Ombudsman for Children and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, it is a significant development because the latter are funded by the Government and they play a very different role.

We have heard very strong, independent, academic research emphasising that the depth of this problem is far greater than many people fully appreciate. The Department publishes a range of monthly reports on homelessness numbers, and quarterly reports on performance and financial indicators. Committee members will know Professor Eoin O'Sullivan from Trinity College Dublin who has been in to this committee. Professor O'Sullivan produces an explanatory guide to those because the reports are quite difficult for us to digest and he has circulated the most recent summary. From the Government's information, Professor O'Sullivan has concluded that in the past quarter and to year end, entries into homelessness are up, repeat entries into homelessness are up and exits from homelessness are down, the length of stay that families and individuals are spending in emergency accommodation is up, and more than 80% of the homelessness budget is going on emergency responses with less than 5% spent on prevention. Again, it is not just the statutory sector saying this. The NGO sector, the academic sector and even the Government's own figures as presented by Professor O'Sullivan show that we have a significant problem.

Given the strength of what we are hearing I would like the committee to consider not just taking the submissions today but also contemplating seriously the compilation of a report to the Minister outlining the kinds of policy changes we believe he needs to consider. This could include some or many of the options that have been put on the table, so that the good people here are not just making a presentation to us but that the committee is also considering which of the recommendations we support or want to prioritise. We could then forward that to the Minister.

I have four straightforward questions for all the witnesses. There are a lot of recommendations and clearly many of us would like to see all of them implemented. We also, however, live in the real world. If the committee was to do a report and try to identify some priority recommendations for each of the organisations and alliances, what would be the one or two significant recommendations they would like the committee to make? We could possibly stretch it to three recommendations but it is important that we are focused on what we should call on the Government to do.

If the Minister or the Department were at the committee, he or his officials would remind us of the increase in social housing output. We have to acknowledge that there is an increase in social housing output, but many of us are critical that it is nowhere near enough. I would like to hear the views of each of the organisations and alliances on the current and proposed output of real social housing owned by approved housing bodies and local authorities. Do the witnesses believe it is enough to meet the demand that they know is there? If not, what do the representatives think should be the output? The debate is not whether houses are being produced but whether the number being produced is enough. I would like to hear the views of the witnesses on this.

The quality standards framework produced by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive is very good. I have met its representatives and I have seen it. If I understood the Minister correctly when he presented to this committee recently, those standards will now apply to the voluntary sector and private sector emergency accommodation, which I welcome as this was not the case originally. I am greatly concerned, however, that the inspections will not be independent. I am not questioning the people in the Dublin Region Homeless Executive or in the local authorities, but if one is funding that emergency accommodation, there is clearly a conflict of interest if one is then inspecting it for the standards. What are each of the organisations' views on the importance of independent inspections and where do they think the inspection role should be located?

My final question relates to the right to housing. We held an Oireachtas debate on this matter. Not everybody in this committee is on the same page in this regard. Some Members of the Oireachtas have said they are open to the idea but that they are yet to be convinced. I am aware that each of the organisations here today have advocated for this. In as plain a set of arguments as they can make, will the witnesses tell the committee what they believe would be the difference of having a constitutional right to housing? I am already convinced but I ask the witnesses to direct their responses to other members of the committee who are genuinely open to considering it but who have yet to be convinced of it. What will the witnesses say to members of this committee who have yet fully to appreciate the value of that? What difference would a constitutional right to housing make, and why is it something the Government should support?