Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There is no doubt there is a crisis, particularly in Dublin. While I listened to the figures given by the Minister, my office is inundated with calls every day from people who are discriminated against because they are on a social welfare payment and landlords will not take them. There is also a major problem with single men trying to access accommodation. Even though the Minister is presenting figures, we are not seeing that movement on the ground, with people getting into accommodation.

While there was €15 million for local authorities, Dublin City Council could take that all on its own and it still would not have enough to deal with the housing crisis in Dublin. With the winter coming, we do not want to see a reaction to people dying on the street; the need is to get in there at the preventative stage. With regard to emergency accommodation, we need a dispersal of those facilities throughout the city.

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