Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Taoiseach to consider what it would be like in this situation. Imagine you are homeless and sleeping on floors of family and friends. You are suffering from depression and have a child with additional needs who has been waiting years to get an assessment. Every day is a challenge. You turn up at the post office to collect your social welfare payment on which you rely to feed your family but you are told to go to the Intreo office and are turned away. You go to the Intreo office and are told that you have been sanctioned for failing to turn up for an appointment, one which you never knew about because you have not been receiving letters since you became homeless. This is an appalling way to treat vulnerable people who are at their wits' end and need support. The Taoiseach said earlier that no one should be judged until all the facts are established. Is this not judging people before any facts have been established? Does the Taoiseach agree that this cruel and inhumane treatment of vulnerable people needs to end?

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