Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There are 1,005 families headed by a single parent in emergency accommodation. We tried to do a piece of research into the reasons people were presenting as homeless and at emergency accommodation centres, but 40% of respondents did not give a reason. We tried to get a proper understanding of what was going on from the answers of the other 60%. Family breakdown accounted for one in three cases, although we did not have a further breakdown of what family breakdown meant, or know how many cases involved domestic violence. One in three came from the private rental sector, although not necessarily following an eviction. In fact, we did not know what the reasons were. This shows the lack of detail included in the data. We have commissioned a more detailed survey which is under way. I hope, we will get a much better understanding from it of the reasons people present as homeless.

I am not responsible for the direct provision system. Different supports are in place for peope coming into the country and seeking asylum. It is not done by local authorities but is led by the Department of Justice and Equality.

I am very well aware of the negative impact on children. One of the first things brought to my attention was the presentation of children suffering from motor skill development issues because of the cramped places in which they were being brought up. I have spoken to people who work in the hubs and have dealt with the issue of homelessness for far longer than I have. I have heard about their fear of intergenerational homelessness and situations where a child is more at risk of becoming homeless than adults. I have also spoken to teachers about the impact of homelessness and living on emergency accommodation on children. The hub programme is in response to the fact that we believe hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation are not an appropriate first response for families. There are 650 families in family hubs where they receive all the care and support they need. Families in hubs spend much less time in emergency accommodation than families in hotels. In Dublin the majority of families spend less than 12 months in emergency accommodation before they are given a home. That is still too long, but the stay is much longer for families in hotels.