Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the growing issue of homelessness, particularly the growing phenomena of families with children becoming homeless. While the main news reports today are focusing on Irish Water and the so-called free allowance for children, the people I am speaking about may not have a home within which to access that water allowance. I have to say I am horrified by what I am seeing. I have been dealing with housing issues as a public representative for nearly 25 years and I have never seen anything like what I am seeing now. This morning the list of homeless families I am dealing with has gone from 12 to 14. Twelve of those families have children, and among them are two mothers who are at the late stage of pregnancy. This is adding dangerous stress to those individuals, one of whom was reported on during "Morning Ireland" this morning.

The irony is that these mothers would not be allowed home from a maternity hospital because they would not be allowed out to get into a car unless there was a car seat, but nobody is asking them if they have a home to go to. In many cases, they are required to rely on the charity of family and friends, which is very short-term, and that is if they are lucky. All of these families are feeling a sense of disbelief and are stressed out, and every one of them is frightened.

The Taoiseach appointed a Minister with responsibility for children. One of the initiatives for which she took responsibility was putting children first, an initiative I applaud. However, what about the children of the families I have just talked about? What about the families in other areas like Dublin and Cork, which are seeing increasing numbers facing the same fate? The Minister, Deputy Burton's stock reply to parliamentary questions in regard to rent supplement is that it is only supposed to be a short-term solution. This suggests there is actually another solution.

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