Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

On three occasions today, the last of which was at 1.41 p.m., I was contacted by people, one of whom asked "Can you help me? I'm in desperate need of help." Does anyone around this Chamber have any doubt about the content of that message? It was the third person today telling me they were about to be made homeless. The children of each of the three families by which I was contacted will join the 3,220 children in this country who are experiencing homelessness.

I listened to the Taoiseach's earlier exchange on Leaders' Questions. I have no confidence that any of the Government's plans are working. That is fine; I am in opposition and he is in government. All the while, children are being made homeless. We need an emergency response. I implore the Government to bring in an eviction ban for at least the winter, although I would argue that it should be beyond that, because we cannot contend with the rising levels of homelessness. Children's lives are being devastated. I had no response for the three families that contacted me earlier. I will be on Parkgate Street with one of them on Friday. We need a ban on evictions. All the waffle in the world will not keep those people in their homes.

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