Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There are almost 4,000 children homeless throughout this State. I am sure that figure upsets everybody here in this House. While I recognise that the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government is responsible for housing, the Minister is responsible for children and youth affairs, and these children are looking to her to be their voice. We all saw the photographs of children sleeping in hotel rooms and we found it distressing. Children are growing up with no cooking facilities in hotel rooms. We have heard it all before, but there is no legal right to shelter in this State, nor is there any legal aid for housing or homelessness. Will the Minister outline if she intends to bring in any legislation to protect our most vulnerable children in these situations?

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