Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State's disappointing reply was exactly the same as the reply we would have got if the tragic events of recent days had not happened. It was promised under Rebuilding Ireland that there would be 300 new Housing First tenancies within a year, but just 180 of them have been delivered. The target of 300 was not close to enough, given that so many people are spending long periods of time in emergency accommodation. My question is exactly the same as it was. Approximately 1,800 turnkey units that are ready to go have been offered to the Government in the past year. Why are just 600 such units being purchased? Will the Minister of State commit to a review of the entire list? Will he come before the housing committee as a matter of urgency to discuss how many more of those units can be bought and how quickly they can be bought? Although I welcome additional emergency accommodation that is safe and of a good quality, I emphasise that people desperately need homes, rather than emergency accommodation, to be provided as a matter of urgency.

See this speech in context