Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I express my disappointment that neither Minister was available to take this urgent debate today. The figures published by the Simon Community earlier this week are a cause of concern. They show an increase of 88% in the number of people sleeping rough in Dublin city centre. There are reports that capacity for short-term crisis accommodation has been reduced and that social housing units are not being turned over quickly enough. One of my primary concerns is that buildings which have been bought to provide accommodation for the homeless are not being used. The Minister of State may be aware that I raised this issue in February this year. I pointed out that Dublin City Council spent €7 million on the former Longfields Hotel, off Baggot Street, which has lain empty for six years.

This was highlighted by Ursula Halligan on the TV3 news, but unfortunately there has been very little movement. It is unacceptable for large amounts of money to be spent to provide much-needed accommodation in this area only for it to be left idle. Longfields Hotel may well be just one of many. While the Minister of State is committed to the long-term strategy to eradicate homelessness by 2016, swift action must be taken now as winter approaches. In my home area of Ringsend and Pearse Street, more than 100 city council social housing units have been empty for anything between six months and two years. These could be turned around swiftly to get people out of temporary and short-term accommodation. It is completely unacceptable that such homes are lying empty and that potential homeless shelters are not being used. I urge the Minister of State to take immediate action by discussing this issue with his colleagues, given the absence of the Minister, Deputy Hogan. They should call in the relevant city and county managers to consider a mechanism to deal with this problem swiftly before the onset of winter.

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