Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Of course it is an absolute political priority of mine, as the Deputy is aware. I thought it critical to identify a number of short-term measures to ensure homeless children do not experience lasting damage. Having listed some of those key actions that I will be driving to implement, I expect the Deputy to agree that they may help to provide a more normal or better experience while they are in that position.

As a member of the Government sitting around the Cabinet table, working with all my colleagues to ensure the plan is implementable, regardless of whether it is inside or outside the brief, our ambition is to have no children dependent on emergency accommodation within a year. It is a high ambition. If we can implement these actions with the support of all our colleagues and others outside the Chamber, we will take care of the problem of child homelessness.

See this speech in context