Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister was dismissive of the report by Focus Ireland. It is a snapshot in time because Focus Ireland does not have the budget to carry out a more extensive study. However, it is not the only organisation which has come to this conclusion. I do not know if the Minister is aware of Threshold's work with a significant number of tenants in the private rented sector who are in receipt of social welfare. Threshold has stated in its pre-budget submission that despite assertions to the contrary, it knows that rent supplement cuts have led to people being made homeless. In her reply to a parliamentary question I tabled on 23 October the Minister stated there would be no increase in homelessness because of these changes.

Focus Ireland works directly with the homeless and those at risk of homelessness. The Minister has a copy of the organisation's report in front of her.

It confirms the assertions made by Threshold, what I have found in my constituency and what many others to whom I have talked say, that there is evidence the changes have contributed to a number of individuals becoming homeless and made it more difficult for people moving out of homelessness to secure appropriate accommodation. Somebody is telling porkies. Is it Threshold, Focus Ireland or the Minister? Somebody is ending up homeless owing to the changes made by the Minister last year.

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