Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

Homelessness is another serious problem linked to the lack of suitable housing. This phenomenon has been increasing in recent years and appears to have worsened in the current economic downturn. At any one time, approximately 5,000 homeless people are living in the State and it is estimated that as many as 1,800 people become homeless each year. For some of these, drug and alcohol addiction, family breakdown, domestic violence or psychiatric illness are the triggers that lead to homelessness. Others, however, are actually part of the economy or have been recently let go from their jobs. That is a particularly frightening aspect of the problem and illustrates both how it is possible to reach that situation and how difficult it is to escape from it.

Whatever the reasons for homelessness, however, the central problem of those affected is that they cannot access a place to call home, and because of that they almost attain the status of non-persons. Everything becomes far more difficult when a person has no home; life becomes more precarious and often dangerous.

As I said earlier, housing needs have reached crisis point with 59,000 households stuck on local authority waiting lists. On top of that, many people are living in homes that are unsuitable, overcrowded and too expensive. These people are most vulnerable to becoming homeless given their profile and problems. Some 80% of people in that category are single men, representing the sharpest end of housing needs in this State. That is especially so, given that they rate as a lower priority on the housing lists than others, for example, adults with children, but that is not an excuse for failing to meet their needs.

That figure is a symbol of the Government's ongoing failure to meet the housing needs of the most vulnerable in our society. Figures released yesterday by the Homeless Agency in Dublin indicate a 4% increase in homelessness in the city. Some 2,300 people are homeless in Dublin city tonight. I know that people are living in tents in the Phoenix Park, many of them from eastern Europe. The homeless represent a cross-section of our society, including people who were recently part of the workforce but who have lost their jobs, are unable to keep up rental payments and have been forced onto the streets.

I commend this motion to the House. I urge the Minister of State to withdraw his amendment and vote with us to tackle the problems of homelessness and housing need in our society.

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