Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

These are families and individuals who could technically become homeless. As a consequence of the ban on evictions during the first phase of lockdown, we saw the homeless figures go down, but because of what happened in July, we will start to see the figures go up again. I am telling the Minister what people are telling me when they ring me in my constituency office. I know of one family that will be evicted at the end of October. I am aware of people who have a notice to quit for November, December or January, at which point they will be facing homelessness.

We need to look after the most vulnerable in our society. We want to work with the Minister and we see there are positives in the Bill but we want to go further and do more. People need reassurance because they are fearful as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. I know of a family that will become homeless at the end of this month. The mother and children will move in with her parents, while her husband will have to move in with his parents. How can that be right when the public health advice is that households should not mix in this way? We want to be positive and constructive and we are asking the Minister to increase the ten-day extension period to 28 days. This is a very challenging time for families and individuals in rented accommodation. We need to give them protection and the reassurance that we are listening to them. We want them to know they will be safe at this time. I hope the Minister accepts these amendments, which will offer greater support to the most vulnerable.

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