Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

On accommodation, it is utterly shameful that there are over 400 people sleeping on the streets, and that will probably increase, at the same time as the obscenity of what has been going on in Mullingar. People ask me many questions, and I cannot answer them. How was what occurred in Mullingar allowed happen? That is the first question. How is it that a tiny group of people can deprive others of their human rights and civil rights? Why is it that we have so many empty buildings? I refer here to Baggot Street hospital, the old Jury's Hotel site in Ballsbridge and a plethora of religious buildings, including a big church in the city centre. It seems we cannot take these on, refurbish them and use them for accommodation for those unfortunates who have to sleep on our streets. Those are two simple questions that I am asked daily. I cannot answer them. Can the Taoiseach answer them?

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