Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The committee met on the 27th, the Taoiseach told us. That would have been three days after the publication of the homeless figures which made for very grim reading. Another record was set, with 13,179 people homeless, and almost 4,000 of those children. Can the Taoiseach tell us what consideration of homelessness and those figures was given at the meeting on 27 November and what consideration will be given on 18 December when they convene again?

I am conscious that we are coming into Christmas season and children are writing their letters to Santa Claus. It is a real shame that almost 4,000 children will write those letters from homeless accommodation and for many of those children, it will not be their first time living in homelessness. What is the plan, as record upon depressing record is made and broken, to accommodate our homeless people, in particular, homeless families with children?

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