Ms Jackie Finney:

As in Dublin, as Ms Hayes said, we are seeing an increase. One of the drivers is family homelessness involving children with one or two parents. We work across the four authorities in the midlands. Westmeath is the lead authority for Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath. There are 95 children in emergency accommodation across the region. In the midlands region, we are trying to concentrate on prevention. The tenant in situ programme was mentioned. Last year, 46 houses in total were acquired just for Westmeath under the tenant in situ programme. It is obviously much more restricted this year. The allocation for Westmeath is €5 million so it is more restricted.

We are acquiring a number of properties at the moment, but one of the key targets is for exits out of homeless and emergency accommodation. We have also invested a lot of resources into HAP place finders, tenancy sustainment officers and homeless prevention staff who work across the four authorities to try to assist families to prevent them losing their homes and to work with them. Some of those families are accommodated in private emergency accommodation. Obviously, we do not feel that is suitable but we are working to set up family hubs in the midlands region. The Department is very supportive of that. We hope to open a family hub in Westmeath during the summer. It is about trying to find more suitable accommodation for families, which is supported, and preventing families from becoming homeless in the first instance.