Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

One hundred and thirty thousand citizens across this State are in need of a home, representing an alarming increase of 40,000 from four years ago. That is the Government record. It is estimated there are now 5,000 people, including over 1,000 children, homeless and living in emergency accommodation in this country. Focus Ireland is reporting that homelessness in Ireland has increased by a staggering 76% since January. It is no surprise, therefore, that the Dublin Simon Community recently referred to this horrendous situation as a "humanitarian crisis".

This is not an issue that is exclusive to Dublin, however; it is a national emergency. My constituency office is visited every day by people who are at their wit's end waiting to be housed. Some of these people have been on housing waiting lists for years and they are clearly at breaking point. It was recently revealed that there are 28 vacant council houses available in my home county of Monaghan. It beggars belief and defies logic that these houses are lying idle when there are over 1,300 applicants - individuals and families - on housing waiting lists across the county. In the neighbouring county at the other end of the constituency, County Cavan, there are 68 vacant council houses and approximately 1,146 applicants on the waiting list for social housing.

In that county, there has been a decrease of €148,467 in the provision for refurbishment funding from 2014 to the current year, 2015. People are on their knees, but it is clear the Government is blind to the reality facing so many vulnerable individuals and families. All we hear time and again is talk of the so-called “recovery” and “stability”, but the reality is that many of Ireland’s families are not feeling any recovery.

The Government's housing policy thus far has been nothing short of abysmal. Social housing provision has been grossly neglected, with years of little or no investment. A vigorous social housing construction programme must be a priority. Spiralling rent costs must also be tackled. For families on rent allowance or those on low incomes, it is simply not possible to meet the demand of increasing rents. Therefore, we are calling for an immediate increase in rent supplement and the housing assistance payment. Similarly, legislation is also needed to protect tenants in the private rental sector to ensure they have greater rent certainty and increased security of tenure.

People are on their knees and it is imperative that this crisis is dealt with effectively and as speedily as possible. Urgent and adequate action is needed to address the issue to ensure there is housing for all who need it. People have a right to housing, to somewhere they can call "home". Sinn Féin has outlined a number of additional measures geared towards tackling this national emergency which would be more properly referred to as a national disgrace. In the interests of all those currently homeless or in danger of losing their homes, we hope all parties in the Dáil will support our motion. Accordingly, I ask the Minister of State to consider withdrawing the Government amendment.

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