Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

There was a recent attempt by the Government, and particularly the Taoiseach, to try to normalise this, or politically normalise it, and say it happens everywhere so it is not a big deal. It is a big deal, and it is an even bigger deal when we have organisations such as the Peter McVerry Trust and Inner City Helping Homeless and political parties urging the Government to declare a housing emergency. The Government declared an emergency to cut public sector pay and conditions but it will not declare a housing emergency. If it did, it would allow it to CPO big vacant buildings such as Apollo House and the hotel on the quays, and open the facilities needed when they are needed and shut them when they are not needed. It would also allow the Government to borrow off-balance-sheet to build the social housing needed. There is a complete refusal to recognise this is an emergency. It is an emergency that is the creation of economic policies and policies to do with developers and vulture funds in this country.

I ask the Minister not to tell me he is throwing everything at the HAP because it does not work. Ask Celina Hogan, who was on "Today with Sean O'Rourke" yesterday. She is from Ballyfermot and has been living in a hotel. Every day she tries to get a landlord to take her and her two children through the HAP. The Government will give her up to €1,800 or €1,900 month for a HAP rental but landlords do not want to do the HAP and it is not happening. This is why homelessness is on the increase and it is not being dealt with.

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