Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his kind words about Niamh Bhreathnach. We appreciate that very much.

We seek to be constructive in addressing the housing crisis and to put forward positive proposals for change that would deliver on housing. That is the purpose of our motion this evening and we were disappointed last night to see Government put down an amendment to that motion. We ask it to withdraw the amendment and work with us and all in opposition who seek to be constructive in this regard.

I accept the €900 million in rent subsidies is essential to keep families and households out of homelessness but it illustrates the short-sightedness of Government housing policy over the past seven years that that level of financing is not seen instead in the provision of public housing on public land, which would be an investment for the State and have a longer-term impact on keeping families and individuals out of homelessness.

Will the Minister address the fact that the number of people entering homelessness reached a record high of 11,632 in December? No matter what figures are given and what initiatives are announced, the housing policy is not working and we need to see innovative and constructive ways to address that. We seek to help the Government in doing that.

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