Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We are appealing to the Minister to use common sense in his approach. Let us not lose sight of the facts. We are trying to live with a global health pandemic and, in addition, we have had, for many years now, scandalous and embarrassing numbers of homeless people and families. It is mind-numbingly depressing. The current situation arises from a lack of action in the past. The problems with homelessness are, in large part, down to the failure that is the housing assistance payment, HAP, scheme. Teachta Michael Healy-Rae alluded to this issue but did not go into detail. Everyone to whom I speak about the housing situation remarks, within two minutes of the conversation starting, that common sense is not so common in this House.

I am appealing to the Minister to accept these amendments in order to give people certainty and strength. Numbers are constantly being mentioned in the House but each and every number represents a real person who should have the right to the most basic of necessities, which is shelter. That is dealt with in the junior certificate business studies textbook, which covers Maslow's hierarchy of needs. If he does not act, the Minister will create more anger, stress and outright frustration in our society. I appeal to him to use common sense in this matter by accepting the amendments and, in so doing, giving strength and support to the people dealing with this most fearful of situations. It is awful to think that one might not have a home for one's children within a very short space of time. In addition, having to go against public health guidelines in order to look for a property is absolutely outrageous.

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