Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for the question. I am very sorry that families have to spend this Christmas in emergency accommodation. I have been meeting many of them this week. This is a very difficult time for parents with children, particularly at this time of year. That is the reason we brought about Rebuilding Ireland, which is a five-year plan. I wish we could get return the housing sector to a functioning state more quickly but the plan is making progress. That is the reason people are able to get keys to new homes, as has been happening throughout this year. Next year, 10,000 more homes will come into the social housing stock. Those will be real homes for families. That will not be enough in one year, but it will be progress and will help 10,000 more families, including children, over the course of next year. As we bring those homes into the stock of social housing, we will continue to help families in hubs and other families in need to find other solutions such as the housing assistance payment.

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