John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Regarding the programme for Government, the issues of housing and homelessness are reflected in the policy document Rebuilding Ireland. I acknowledge specifically the efforts many people went to in the recent very severe weather in Dublin in dealing with homeless people and rough sleepers. It needs to be acknowledged that they did an exceptional job. However, their work highlighted the fact that there are significantly more people who are rough sleepers in Dublin than had been acknowledged and provision made for before. It is important we now set out a clear programme as to how we deal with these additional people who have been brought into the services, some of them for the first time. Many of our charities, such as Focus Ireland, Simon Communities of Ireland, Merchants Quay Ireland and the Peter McVerry Trust, are dealing at the front line with these people. In light of the additional people who have been identified, I ask that a clear plan and additional funding for these charities be put in place. It is interesting to note that even on the way in today, on the radio, there were fundraising appeals for these charities. In light of the new numbers, I ask that specific programmes and additional funding be made available.

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