Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)

Information acquired under the Freedom of Information Act shows that last January the HSE-run homeless persons unit received over 5,000 calls for emergency housing. By July this figure had almost doubled to 9,300 calls. I agree that the Minister is familiar with this area but the real issue in dealing with homelessness is moving people from emergency housing to long-term, more sustainable living arrangements. In Dublin, 54% of people who are defined as homeless under the current definition are in emergency housing. Does the Minister recognise that the way to deal with homelessness in the long term is to move people from emergency housing into long-term, more independent and sustainable living accommodation? What type of investment is the Minister focusing on this area? Finally, does he believe the strategy set down in 2008 is meeting its targets or is the schedule falling behind?

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