Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. Focus Ireland recently said the number of people who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes and seek support from the charity has increased by 23% over two years from 6,500 in 2010 to more than 8,000 last year. Recently, it warned that the continued impact of the recession and additional factors, including a feared increase in the number of family homes being repossessed due to the new code of conduct on mortgage arrears, will mean many more people and families will be at risk of homelessness.

The Minister of State said there would be a multifaceted and housing-led approach to homelessness. How will that work in the short and medium term? The use of rental supplement does not provide permanent housing. It is one part of the plan, in conjunction with local authorities.

There are different needs in terms of homelessness. There are people with mental health difficulties and those who have nowhere else to go. Homelessness involves a multitude of factors. Are the 2016 targets realistic? Meeting them will be very difficult unless we produce more social housing. NAMA is not delivering quickly enough one way or another on the amount of social housing it is providing.

The Minister of State referred to 400 homes, and 100 more are promised in addition to the 280 in place. We are not delivering housing quickly enough. I have seen an increase in homelessness. Placement units have reported that an increasing number of people are coming to them. It is clear many people are sleeping rough. We need to have more goals and to make social housing available. Until we do so, we will not be able to address the multitude of problems encountered by those experiencing homelessness.

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