Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Tánaiste was spoke to the local newspaper in Cork today about the eviction ban. Was he offering advice to the 500 household that are facing eviction next week? No, he was attacking Sinn Féin for making a political issue out of the ending of the eviction ban and the housing crisis. I can tell the Minister of State that I am not playing politics. I know of a single mother who does not know where her child will be going to school after Easter because she does not know where she will be living. I know of a family who have one son doing his college exams and another son doing his leaving certificate. They have not even told their children yet that they are to be out of their house on 15 April because they do not want to bring the stress and worry on them. Can you imagine trying to do your leaving certificate while being homeless? Many families are facing that. Families are consulting the daft.iewebsite every day. To give the Minister an idea, there are 39 properties listed on daft.ieat a time when 500 households are facing eviction in Cork. I do not know how good he is at maths, but, no matter what way one turns it, 500 does not go into 39.

People are shocked by what the Minister is doing. They cannot believe it. They cannot believe how cruel this Government is or the lack of empathy it is displaying. People are facing being evicted next weekend. Has the Government any concept of the stress, the pressure and devastation that will cause? The Government has accused Sinn Féin of using this as a political football. Is that the only thing the spin doctors and the backroom consultants have to say? It would be more in line for those spin doctors and high-paid advisers to be helping the Minister to deliver homes.

Of the 11,554 people affected, 3,431 are children. I have a direct question for the Minister; two questions actually. Where are they to go next week? How many people must become homeless before the Ministers will admit they are wrong, resign and call a general election? Must it be 4,000 children or must it be 5,000 children? How many children must become homeless before the Government will admit it is wrong?

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