John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Government has said it is disappointed that the homeless figure has exceeded the symbolic number of 10,000. I can use much stronger language than that. It is at least a national scandal. Wicklow is no different from any other county in the State. From December to February, the number of those in emergency accommodation increased by 25%. In December in Wicklow, 12 beds were opened in the cold weather initiative, which essentially is emergency accommodation. There is actually a waiting list for people to get into that accommodation. This Sunday, the premises will close because the funding expires. The funding was only in place until the end of March. I listened to the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, say funding is not an issue when it comes to addressing homelessness, but clearly it is. These people are going to be evicted by the Government back onto the streets because there is no alternative accommodation for them. Will the Tánaiste give me categorical assurances today that those 12 individuals and the others who cannot get in there will not end up on the streets-----

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