Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I commend the work of Deputy Ó Broin and all involved on bringing this Bill to the floor of the Dáil. I commend the Simon Community on the work it is doing. The automatic extension of notice periods for residential tenants, where the tenant is certified as being at risk of homelessness, is a really important intervention. My constituency of Longford-Westmeath has not been immune from the rise of homelessness that we have seen. Westmeath County Council has implemented a devolved regime under the midlands homelessness action plan. On 30 November, there were 83 people in emergency accommodation, 35 of which were from County Westmeath alone. Each of those individuals represents a life turned upside down and devastated by the impact of homelessness. Taking action to keep families in their homes and prevent them from entering homelessness in the first place is vital. I want to describe to the Minister the impact that this legislation will have. Last week, a young woman in her early 20s, whom I will call Annie, came to my office. She had 48 hours to leave the room she had been renting. She was desperate. She had tried everything in her power to stay in that property and source another one. I am not exaggerating when I say that she was shaking like a leaf. There were no tears because she had none left. I was confronted with a young women who was broken and racked with dry sobs. She has spent the past five days in a hotel and has been told that she needs to leave by Thursday. There are no beds available in emergency accommodation. There may be a tent and a sleeping bag available for Annie. Any property that is likely to become available will not be available until the new year. We face three weeks of trying to plug a gap over the Christmas period. To me and any person with an ounce of decency and or morals, that should not involve a tent or a sleeping bag.

I will vote in favour of this Bill. I will vote in favour of it for people like Annie, for the countless others like her and for those who have sold their belongings going into emergency accommodation. I will vote for it for those who are dreading the notice to quit coming in the door because they know it is on the way, for those who are sofa surfing, and for every child who, come Friday week, will ask how Santy will find them.

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