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

Mr. John Corrie was found dead across the road on Molesworth Street six months ago. In a flurry of activity which followed his death, an extra 260 beds were opened for emergency accommodation. Those were filled immediately, over the Christmas period and since, by those who were sleeping rough at the time. A new night café, operated by Merchants Quay, which accommodated 50 homeless a night sleeping on rugs and mats, was opened. However, in that time, those sleeping rough in the city has only fallen by 15. The most recent count shows that there were 150 sleeping rough in this city. There are rumours amongst those who are homeless that the temporary accommodation, that 260 beds to which I referred, will soon be closed because it was a temporary arrangement until June. What we are urgently requesting from the Government is a commitment to maintain those beds at a minimum and to increase the emergency accommodation. Does the Minister agree that we also need to stem the flow of tenants into homelessness which is happening continuously in this city - that is why the number is not being addressed - by providing a pathway into housing? Does he accept that the housing crisis is, in fact, creating a homeless crisis in this city and that one of the steps required is for the Government to introduce fair rent controls or at least rent certainty, as promised recently by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Kelly, at the Labour Party conference?

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