Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of people sleeping rough who are being turned away from emergency shelters. I raised this issue with the Taoiseach before and despite his assurances people continue to be refused access to emergency accommodation even though beds lie empty. The circular issued by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, in December regarding this was weak and ineffective and fell far short of what was needed. In the RTÉ Prime Time Investigates programme on homelessness broadcast on Monday night, we saw the real impact of this cruel and inhumane practice on people sleeping rough. People continue to be refused access to emergency beds since that programme aired. Will the Taoiseach instruct local authorities and the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive, DRHE, to stop this cruel and inhumane practice of turning people sleeping rough away from emergency beds?

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