Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach has outlined the broad remit for the social policy and public service reform division but it is fair to say that its responsibility to ensure that public policies and services are socially inclusive and fair, that they concern equality, is not working. The Taoiseach has already acknowledged that a homeless citizen died yesterday and there are reports that another homeless citizen died today. The Taoiseach has extended his condolences to the family involved. I also extend my condolences.

The Peter McVerry Trust has said that seven homeless people have died in the past 12 weeks. That is totally unacceptable. This situation of course demands our condolences but it demands much more than that. We are told that 184 citizens are lying in the cold and it is bitterly cold now. It is reported that 50 adults were in the Merchant's Quay night café because they were unable to get an emergency bed. I know the Taoiseach dealt with this earlier but I would like him to outline again the emergency measures the Government has planned to help citizens sleeping on the streets, in shop doorways or in tents and to deal with the trauma for 3,000 children and their parents who will celebrate Christmas living in totally inappropriate accommodation. There are rumours, although I cannot support them, that some of those in hotels and boarding houses may lose their places because some of those establishments are looking for other customers. Will the Government revisit the Focus Ireland amendment to the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 to limit landlords issuing vacant possession notices to quit?

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