Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In the programme for Government, the word "housing" is mentioned 68 times, "home" 35 times and "homes" 29 times. Two of the five-year housing objectives are to tackle homelessness and to ensure that local authorities are central to delivering on the housing for all mission. The Prime Time Investigates programme on Monday night reported that a 59-year-old homeless Carlowman in Dublin was told he could not access an emergency bed because he was not a local. We heard on that programme the phone call which was made. That man was told that he was registered in Carlow and so he should interact there. As he was in Dublin, he was told in that phone call that there was nothing that could be done for him. The records showed that 75 hostel beds were empty in Dublin that night, yet that man was refused a bed because he was not a local.

I have come across this issue of people not getting beds because they are not locals several times. It is unacceptable. I know the family of the man concerned and they are lovely. This man deserved a bed. It is unfair that he was not allowed a bed that night. This is an issue we need to address. I also came across this issue in respect of a domestic violence case, where a person could not get accommodation and was told because they were from a neighbouring county to go back to their own local authority.

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